Review: Fast & Furious Presents: HOBBS & SHAW smashes its way onto 4K Blu-ray

Over the course of a whopping eight films, the Fast & Furious franchise has evolved from relatively straightforward thrillers about illegal drag racing gangs to full-on action epics with some of the most mind-boggling stunts ever put on film. With Hobbs & Shaw, the franchise’s first spin-off film, the leads have basically become out-and-out superheroes, battling a villain that wouldn’t be out of place in the MCU. Starring Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock) as Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw, it’s a loud, bombastic action extravaganza that plays out like an 80s buddy cop movie set in a world where the laws of physics on longer apply.

The film sees once-bitter rivals Hobbs and Shaw teaming up to track down a deadly virus, which just so happens to be coursing through the veins of Shaw’s sister, M16 agent Hattie Shaw (Vanessa Kirby). Meanwhile, the trio have to fend off Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), a terrorist with cybernetic implants that give him superhuman-like abilities. Like a James Bond film on steroids, the film is a globetrotting affair, culminating in a standoff on Samoa that ranks as one of the best action scenes in the entire Fast & Furious franchise. With lots of comic banter and over-the-top set pieces, Hobbs & Shaw is the perfect Saturday afternoon popcorn flick, a light-hearted and fun extension of the F&F universe.

Hobbs & Shaw arrives on 4K Blu-ray today (alongside a standard Blu-ray release and VOD) with a ton of extras. Leading the pack is a collection of deleted/extended/alternate scenes totalling a whopping 34 minutes, a number of featurettes breaking down the action scenes and characters, an exploration of Hobbs’ extended family, and a packed commentary track with director David Leitch.

With incredible audio and video and a strong collection of worthwhile extras, Hobbs & Shaw comes highly recommended on Blu-ray for fans of the film and the Fast & Furious series in general. David Leitch and the entire cast are keenly aware of the ridiculous movie they are making, and that wacky tone permeates the entire film, resulting in the kind of action film we really haven’t seen much of since the Schwarzenegger / Stallone heyday. Gather up your own “family” and enjoy the bonkers ride.

Fast & Furious Presents HOBBS & SHAW is available on 4K Blu-ray now.