'The Wrecking Crew' review: Unexpected chemistry between men with daddy issues
UNITED KINGDOM — Beefcakes can come with emotions as seen in Prime Video's "The Wrecking Crew," which pairs action stars Jason Momoa and Filipino-American Dave Bautista.
Momoa and Bautista play estranged half-brothers who have not spoken with each other in a decade, especially with Momoa's flamboyant and drunken Jonny trying to keep things together in Oklahoma.
The death of their father Walter (stuntman and surfer Brian Keaulana) and a home attack, however, lead Jonny to return to Hawai'i after 20 years to begrudgingly reunite with Bautista's James. The brothers embark on an action-filled mission to uncover plans Walter was investigating.
Coincidentally, Momoa and Bautista played brothers before on the Apple series "See," but "The Wrecking Crew" offers a different dynamic to tackling — literally — issues between siblings.
While it is nowhere near as epic as "Dune" (which both actors also starred in but they never shared scenes), the movie is filled with action sequences that are arguably better fit for the big screen rather than streaming.
Director Ángel Manuel Soto has cited the film pays homage to past action flicks — "Lethal Weapon" comes to mind — though his latest movie still manages to whip up some original and equally bonkers set pieces.
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Without spoiling fans of Dave and Jason, these include a cheese grater in an early scene, a helicopter above the highway near the climax, a hallway scene reminiscent of "Oldboy," and a brawl in the rain between the brothers, which surprisingly has some heart in it.
It is also not without comedy, with half of the extreme profanity dealt by another Filipino-American actor Jacob Batalon, plus some respectable performances in small roles by Temuera Morrison, Morena Baccarin, and Stephen Root.
At the core of "The Wrecking Crew" is the undeniable chemistry between Momoa and Bautista, whose clashing personalities on-and-off the screen mesh so well it is like they could have grown up together.
The two actors shine in their individual bombastic scenes but are especially enjoyable when pitted against each or teaming up to throw down.
A story beat involving the people of Hawai'i and their homelands strongly connects to Momoa and his character's journey home, and even to director Soto, who has called it a reflection of his native Puerto Rico.
While its understandable why the film has gone straight to streaming, the world would do well to see Momoa and Bautista bashing it all out again.
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