THE WRECKING CREW (AMAZON PRIME) (2026)

SYNOPSIS: In THE WRECKING CREW, estranged half-brothers Jonny (Jason Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista) reunite after their father's mysterious death. As they search for the truth, buried secrets reveal a conspiracy threatening to tear their family apart.

MOVIE REVIEW:

If you’re looking for an example of how streaming has changed moviegoing, look no further than ‘The Wrecking Crew’. Two or three decades ago, this energetic buddy cop action comedy would probably be a big summer release; but today, this is all but relegated to a late January release on Amazon Prime Video. Fortunately, that hasn’t in any way moderated director Angel Manuel Soto from mounting a vigorous genre piece that harks back to the classics from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

This is in large part due to the inspired casting of Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa as estranged half-brothers who team up to investigate their father’s mysterious hit-and-run against the scenic backdrop of Honolulu. Though both appeared together as warrior brothers in Apple’s dystopian sci-fi series ‘See’, this is their first tailor-made co-starring vehicle; in fact, the real-life friends had instigated the project and serve as producers, and their chemistry and passion for the joint endeavour carries the movie from start to finish.

Indeed, from its vintage title card to its retro jukebox soundtrack (including one by Phil Collins, as a reference to ‘Miami Vice’ for good measure), ‘The Wrecking Crew’ is an unapologetic throwback to say buddy-cop films like ’48 Hours’ and ‘Tango and Cash’. The mystery itself is fairly predictable, involving a shifty English-accented real-estate businessman played by Claes Bang, Yakuza-led mobsters and government corruption; but what its purpose is ultimately to escort Bautista and Momoa from one set-piece to another, which both stars gladly indulge with unabashed glee.

Making the best out of the (limited) budget they have, Soto stages three bravado set-pieces with elan – an early fight where Momoa fends off knife-wielding Yakuza in his bathrobe, when he is caught unawares in his Louisiana home; a highway chase involving a minivan and a helicopter with cars exploding, grenades exploding and limbs getting separated from bodies; and last but not least, an ambush on the said businessman’s compound that includes a bloody and brutal hallway fight where Bautista faces off with a horde of Yakuzas in a clear homage to ‘Oldboy’.

Even as the storytelling serves merely as impetus for the action, Soto and writer Jonathan Tropper (of the upcoming ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’) give Bautista and Momoa the space to flesh out their respective characters, and in particular their contrasting personalities – Bautista as the ultra-disciplined, straight-laced Navy SEAL commander who is by nature analytical and methodical; and Momoa as the wayward, somewhat irresponsible man-child who gets around in biker leathers and is in a failing relationship with a fed-up partner (Morena Baccarin, who makes the best of a supporting role especially in the over-the-top highway chase scene).

On their part, Bautista and Momoa inject the proceedings with genuine emotion, especially in confronting their history as half-brothers, culminating in a knock-down, drag-out fight between them that turns out surprisingly poignant. Their barbed exchanges also bounce off with zing, testament again to the infectious dynamic between the two co-stars that fire off each other. Though their supporting ensemble (and it is a talented crowd all right) get short shrift, you can hardly begrudge Soto for keeping the focus quite squarely on his lead actors.

So even if it hardly breaks any new ground, ‘The Wrecking Crew’ visits familiar buddy-cop action comedy territory with bravado and gusto. You can hardly question the commitment that both Bautista and Momoa bring to the table, and their energy, professionalism and sheer star power is more than enough to win over genre fans. Like we said at the beginning, this would have been popcorn-worthy summer fare two or three decades ago, and even though times have changed, there are some guilty pleasures that are evergreen. 

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Gabriel Chong