REVIEW: The Wrecking Crew

oing into this movie, I had absolutely no expectations. I skipped the trailers entirely, but the idea of a buddy action comedy headlined by Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa was undeniably appealing. At the same time, it also felt like the kind of premise that could easily fall apart in the wrong hands, especially with a weak script.

The end result lands somewhere comfortably in the middle. This isn’t a genre reinvention, nor does it aspire to be. Instead, it delivers exactly what its premise promises — sometimes effectively, sometimes less so. The Hawaiian setting provides a welcome change of pace, especially for a story that incorporates the Yakuza, giving the film a slightly fresher visual identity than expected. Unfortunately, Jonathan Tropper’s script leans heavily on familiar tropes, and much of the humor feels overly reliant on constant swearing rather than sharp punchlines. The film often seems more interested in sounding edgy than actually being funny.

That said, the mystery element works better than anticipated. While seasoned viewers may see where things are headed, the story takes its time revealing its hand, and there’s a genuine sense of curiosity in seeing how everything comes together. The score is serviceable but largely forgettable, whereas the sound design stands out as a real strength, giving every punch, gunshot, and explosion a satisfying impact.

As expected, the film rests heavily on the chemistry between its two leads, and Bautista and Momoa mostly deliver. The dynamic follows the familiar reckless wildcard versus straight man formula, and while the film doesn’t fully sell them as brothers, their natural screen presence helps smooth over that issue. Momoa’s larger-than-life charisma often dominates the screen, occasionally overshadowing Bautista’s more subdued performance, but the contrast still works. The banter rarely produces laugh-out-loud moments, yet it remains consistently entertaining thanks to the actors’ inherent charm.

Jacob Batalon is solid in a supporting role, with a parkour-heavy sequence standing out as one of the film’s more memorable moments. Claes Bang makes for a serviceable antagonist, though limited screen time prevents him from leaving much of an impression.

Where the film truly shines is in its action. Director Ángel Manuel Soto stages several strong set pieces, including an intense home invasion fight and a standout car chase involving a helicopter and a motorcycle gang. While the CGI can be uneven at times, the action is shot clearly and energetically, avoiding the shaky-cam chaos that plagues so many modern action films. The brutality is also more pronounced than expected, which helps elevate the stakes even when the visuals occasionally falter.

In the end, again this movie doesn’t reinvent the wheel — and it doesn’t need to. With solid action, charismatic leads, and a few standout sequences, it delivers exactly what you’d expect from its premise. It may not be particularly memorable, but it makes for an enjoyable, low-effort watch, especially as a laid-back weekend crowd-pleaser.