The Wrecking Crew

(dir. Angel Manuel Soto)

By: Tarek Fayoumi

Angel Manuel Soto has gotten more creative with the way he combines entertainment and action in his directing. Many of Soto’s films  combine joyful comedy along with suspenseful plots. This can be seen from his previous works including  Dinner Party (2018) and Blue Beetle (2023). He levels up his filmography with the perfect duo for vengeance by teaming Aqua Man and Drax as brothers in The Wrecking Crew. Set in a gorgeous Hawaiian locale, and featuring  well-written  suspense, The Wrecking Crew exceeded my expectations. That is because the brotherhood dynamic has class that is meaningful, while also being bonkers.

The Wrecking Crew takes place in Hawaii. The film focuses on two half-brothers with a mixed relationship. Jason Momoa (Aquaman, A Minecraft Movie) is Jonny Hale and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Blade Runner 2049) is James Hale. They come together to seek out the truth regarding their father’s death. There are scenarios they are trying to piece together, and the dynamic of brothers begins to evolve to put an end to the dangers their father has left behind. With a criminal enterprise and Yakuza clans, The Wrecking Crew becomes an instant jam of Momoa and Bautista bashing heads with attitude.

The film has solid continuity and features a number of characters that cannot  be trusted. Momoa plays Jonny as a character  who simply cannot behave. He does so where it is presented that whatever damage is done brings him closer to his father’s enemy. Bautista plays the mediator many times, but then later loses his patience and ends up doing tons of the damage as well. The bond of brothers is one that continues to fight. Despite their unexplained troubles, they seek redemption as family. Even if it includes helicopters and crazy road rage like a 007 flick, only The Wrecking Crew explodes with more laughter than expected.

The film does throw in others to create the chemistry to feel more enticing while also adding other moments to laugh with. Jacob Batalon (Shortcomings, Novocaine) is Pika. He plays an IT assistant to help both brothers track down sources to the main nemesis. Then Morena Baccarin (Deadpool, Elevation) plays Valentina, and she is Jonny’s partner who becomes entangled in the mess. But she drives like a NASCAR driver. All four come together with quirks, realizations, and teamwork of classiness. They all make The Wrecking Crew unforgettable.

Target Score 7/10: Soto brings in a lot of chemistry that is one-of-a-kind with Momoa and Bautista. With the superhero attitudes tackling political espionage, The Wrecking Crew is elegant. It is now streaming on Amazon Prime.