This is more like it. After years and years we’ve finally come full circle and are back to enjoying and appreciating a new iteration of the classic old stock crude humour and wacky violence that is the buddy comedy, while getting our hearts warmed along the way. Not a whiff of a progressive touchstone to guide us, nor a recognizable message to smugly beam at with pride as we nod at how far we’ve come since the boys club debauchery riddled films such as these went asunder. Instead what we have is a good ol’ fashioned throwback movie for the dudes. Don’t get it twisted, anyone can get in on the good time that is The Wrecking Crew (though I’m not so sure about the name), particularly fans of the likes of 48 Hrs. (1982), Running Scared (1982) and especially Lethal Weapon (1987). Set mainly on and around the Hawaiian island Oahu, the story centres around two estranged half-brothers (Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa, both gunned and game) reuniting after the suspicious death of their father. On one hand we have the bald, upstanding and responsible, older, former Navy SEAL, family man, while on the other is a long-haired, smart ass and brooding, hard-drinking, younger wildcard cop with a chip on his shoulder. Yes, it’s the odd couple, brothers at odds, whatever you want to call it, we’ve seen this formula before; and it’s an infectious, frat boy, ball-busting romp that works thanks to its leads, who are clearly having a good time. The story isn’t all that important as it moves quickly, with beatings, drinking, drugs, wiseass remarks and a sweet family dynamic bringing it home. Everyone, including fed-up ex girlfriend Valentina (Morena Baccarin) and Yakuza member Nakamura (Miyavi) are giving it their off-handed all, and it shows especially during an hilarious and violent helicopter chase sequence and merry homage to Oldboy (2003). Bautista brandishes firearms and blades in the corridor massacre instead of a hammer, and though you may think it was just coincidence and not inspired the Park Chan-wook film, he hammers it home…with a hammer. So, if unapologetic muscular mayhem was ever your thing, no need to search the archives, The Wrecking Crew is a fresh action comedy, with nothing to teach us. Mahalo.

WATCH OR NOT: WATCH