--- title: "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/fast-and-furious-presents-hobbs-and-shaw/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/fast-and-furious-presents-hobbs-and-shaw" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 23 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 23 reviews: 14 positive, 7 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics find Hobbs & Shaw entertaining despite its familiar plotting and deliberate absurdity. Praise centres on Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham’s comic chemistry, with Vanessa Kirby repeatedly singled out for her wit, presence and physical dexterity. The action also wins broad approval, particularly the London chase and close-quarters fights, while several reviews credit the film with giving its spectacle enough emotional weight to matter. The main reservations concern repetitive banter, uneven jokes and a running time that stretches thin material. The final act divides opinion: some find it sluggish, while Consequence sees it as the point where the action and emotional stakes become satisfying. The spread runs from enthusiastic approval to outright rejection: The AV Club disputes the praise for the action, calling it poorly staged, while The i Paper finds the film loud and exhausting but still admires Kirby. ## Empire — Kambole Campbell Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2019. Campbell finds the film a thrilling, charming action romp despite jokes that sometimes fall flat. He particularly praises Vanessa Kirby’s wit and dexterity, along with the lead actors’ chemistry. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/fast-furious-hobbs-shaw/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. Jones finds the spin-off audacious, with bursts of awe-inspiring action. He says the leads’ banter can become wearisome between those set pieces. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-25strv/fast-furious-hobbs-shaw/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2019. Ebiri finds the spin-off refreshingly entertaining, thanks to the leads’ chemistry and contrasting energies. He especially praises the tightly choreographed physical action, while noting that some large-scale set pieces feel obligatory. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/hobbs-and-shaw-movie-review.html) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 3/4. 31 July 2019. Cole finds the film’s quick-witted leads and family-focused emotional stakes endearing, despite its familiar franchise formula. He praises the stars’ chemistry and the inventive, escalating action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-hobbs-and-shaw-goofily-coasts-on-quick-witted-star-power/) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Rating B-. 31 July 2019. Kohn finds the film an uneven but entertaining buddy comedy, with its leads’ chemistry overcoming much of the weak plotting and excess runtime. He especially praises the comic interplay between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, while also noting the Samoan finale’s emotional and representational strengths. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/hobbs-and-shaw-review-dwayne-johnson-jason-statham-1202162273/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2019. Bradshaw finds the spin-off an unexpectedly fun, fervently silly action romp, though its final battle loses steam. He praises the gonzo action and especially the hair-raising London chase. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/31/fast-furious-hobbs-shaw-review-dwayne-johnson-jason-statham-idris-elba) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2019. McCarthy finds the film an enjoyable, knowingly absurd action spectacle, though its extended final act goes on too long. He particularly praises the lively, humorous banter between Johnson and Statham. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/fast-furious-presents-hobbs-shaw-review-1228228/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2019. Debruge finds the film fun and highly accomplished despite its wildly over-the-top, nonsensical excesses. He praises David Leitch’s efficient visual storytelling and inventive action set-pieces. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/fast-and-furious-presents-hobbs-and-shaw-review-1203286293/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 3/5. 2 August 2019. O’Sullivan gives the spin-off a mixed verdict, finding its London action entertaining but its humor uneven. She particularly praises Vanessa Kirby as Hattie, while criticizing the chemistry with Jason Statham. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/fast-furious-hobbs-shaw-review-a-high-speed-london-spin-off-a4203926.html) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 3/3/3. 1 August 2019. The critic finds it silly, fun, and ideal summer cinema, though it can overstay its welcome. She praises the bombastic set-pieces and the chemistry between Johnson and Statham. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/fast-and-furious-hobbs-and-shaw) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2019. Chang finds the spinoff diverting but overlong, with too much snark and not enough soul. He praises Vanessa Kirby as the standout, stealing scenes from Johnson and Statham. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-08-01/hobbs-and-shaw-review-dwayne-johnson-jason-statham) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 3/5. 30 July 2019. The review says the spin-off gets the job done. It singles out the bickering between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham as a highlight. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/fast-furious-hobbs-shaw) ## Total Film — James Mottram Rating 3/5. 31 July 2019. Mottram finds it entertaining but overly familiar, with the constant macho banter and a sagging final act weakening the film. He praises the action, especially the London chase and Statham’s corridor fight. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/hobbs-and-shaw-review-fast-furious/) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Rating C. 31 July 2019. Vishnevetsky finds the film silly and initially fun, but ultimately far from the series’ best. He praises the early energy and comic interplay of its stars, while faulting the action set pieces as uninspired and poorly staged. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/hobbs-shaw-is-the-silliest-fast-furious-movie-yet-1836838978) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2019. The critic finds the fast-paced spin-off underwhelming rather than impressively furious. The headline singles out its lack of the expected fury as a complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/hobbs-and-shaw-review/5141608.article) ## The i Paper — Demetrios Matheou Rating ★. 31 July 2019. Matheou judges the spin-off a dismal failure, finding it loud, exhausting, and let down by a weak script. He singles out Vanessa Kirby as the film’s highlight, praising her resourceful character and nimble action work. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/fast-and-furious-presents-hobbs-shaw-review-cast-dwayne-johnson-jason-statham-320715) ## The Ringer — Miles Surrey Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2019. Surrey finds the spinoff a wildly entertaining action film that embraces its superhero-style absurdity. He especially praises David Leitch’s cleanly composed, easy-to-follow action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2019/08/02/movies/fast-and-furious-hobbs-and-shaw-review) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 3.5 out of 5. 1 August 2019. Kaye finds the film entertaining despite its familiar plot and over-the-top action. He singles out the comic chemistry between Johnson and Statham as the film’s main strength. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/hobbs-shaw-review-more-dwayne-johnson/) ## /Film — Hoai-Tran Bui Rating 6 out of 10. 31 July 2019. The critic finds the film excessive and silly, but ultimately pretty fun. She praises the energetic action setpieces and the physical chemistry between Johnson and Statham. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/568093/hobbs-and-shaw-review/) ## Consequence — Clint Worthington Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2019. Worthington finds the film silly and overlong early on, but says its finale brings emotional stakes and satisfying action. He especially praises Vanessa Kirby’s capable, charismatic performance and the Samoan setting’s action sequences. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2019/07/film-review-hobbs-and-shaw/) ## Digital Spy — Gabriella Geisinger Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2019. The critic finds the spin-off entertaining, if derivative, and just over-the-top enough to work. She praises its funny, fast-paced action and points to the quieter moments as a welcome contrast to the constant banter. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a28550415/hobbs-and-shaw-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2019. The review finds the film a knowingly silly, frivolous blockbuster that succeeds by pairing spectacle with heart. It particularly praises the imaginative, visually impressive stunts and action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/hobbs-shaw-film-review-fast-furious-dwayne-johnson-jason-statham-idris-elba/) ## Paste — Dom Sinacola Rating 5.6. 1 August 2019. Sinacola finds the film entertaining in some respects but ultimately less imaginative and effective than the preceding Fast & Furious films. He praises the cast’s charm, especially Idris Elba’s menace, while criticizing the action for favoring spectacle over visceral execution. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/fast-furious/fast-furious-presents-hobbs-shaw) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/fast-and-furious-presents-hobbs-and-shaw.md