My quick rating – 6.7/10. The Wrecking Crew wastes absolutely no time telling you what kind of movie it’s going to be, opening with a sweeping city shot serenaded by what I will forever maintain is the most overrated band of all time. As the camera spins and the credits roll, we zero in on an older man being followed before he’s abruptly run down in the street by a van blaring Guns N’ Roses. Subtlety is not invited to this party, and honestly, that’s fine. This brutal little opener sets the tone nicely and brings us straight to James (Dave Bautista) and Johnny (Jason Momoa), estranged half-brothers reunited by their father’s mysterious death.
Our real introduction to Johnny comes via a slick, violent, and well-choreographed fight scene with members of the Yakuza, immediately letting us know that this murder was no random hit-and-run. The action is also refreshingly free of “shaky cam” or seizure-inducing editing. Finally, when Johnny and James are brought together, the comedic core of the movie snaps firmly into place. These two characters genuinely dislike each other, and every time they are together, it is full of insults, sarcastic comments, and backhanded digs. Luckily, their chemistry works so well that the humor doesn’t feel exhausting.
Jacob Batalon pops up as Pika, a former associate of their father, Walter, and he provides his usual dose of humor without tipping into full comic relief overload. The performances across the board are solid and committed, which keeps this from drifting into lazy action-movie autopilot. Bautista brings his usual ominous presence, Momoa leans into his oddball charisma, and together they keep things surprisingly lively.
Visually, the film looks great. The first major action sequence sets the pace beautifully, using creative camera movement and clear staging that lets you actually appreciate what’s happening. The action continues to deliver throughout, occasionally veering into the wildly unrealistic, but when it looks this good, who really cares? The minivan sequence in particular is a standout, and the CGI work is seamless enough to sell some truly absurd moments without breaking immersion.
Things get even more entertaining once Johnny’s girlfriend, Valentina (Morena Baccarin), enters the mix, giving us a bit more humor and a little intrigue. Of course, there’s a sprawling conspiracy at the heart of it all, complete with the classic villain move of kidnapping loved ones in exchange for a thumb drive that could apparently trigger World War III on a Hawaiian island. It’s ridiculous, but the movie knows it.
Between the gorgeous scenery in Hawaii and Auckland, New Zealand, and a soundtrack that eventually redeems itself with Phil Collins, The Wrecking Crew succeeds because it understands exactly what it is. Amazon delivers a very solid January popcorn movie here, and honestly, I was perfectly happy leaving my brain at the door for the night.
