The Wrecking Crew, 2026

Brothers aren't always right: review of the film “The Wrecking Crew” starring Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa

A friendly and muscular action movie in the spirit of the old school.

James (Dave Bautista), a level-headed Navy SEAL commander, leads a quiet family life in a house by the sea. His brother, the hot-headed cop Johnny (Jason Momoa), can't seem to get along with either his girlfriend Valentina (Morena Baccarin) or his brother. The mysterious death of their father brings the family together in Hawaii. They realize that his death was no accident and that criminal organizations are involved.

Is everything okay with the action genre, and will brothers stand up for each other today, as philosophy dictates? These are two questions that may concern male audiences who grew up on 90s action films. Sometimes all we need is the spirit of the old school, a couple of muscular heroes on screen, and an exotic location like Hawaii, where an unpretentious plot will unfold. The Expendables is just such a Friday movie, without serious ambitions or innovative features, which relies on a duo of opposites: the disciplined family man James (Dave Bautista) and the bon vivant Johnny (Jason Momoa). The question of brotherly relations is always delicate and difficult (even, let's say, since biblical times), and cinema offers a wide variety of answers on what to do with your closest relative. Just think back to last year and the number of films devoted to brotherly relationships: from the Russian Summer Will End to the vampire film The Sinners.

Viewers may remember director Ángel Manuel Soto from the superhero film The Green Hornet, which was not the most original attempt to revive the DC Universe at the time. But the Puerto Rican director managed to bring the everyday life of Mexican communities and the carefree lightness of the 2000s to the story. Soto pulls off a similar trick with this action flick about estranged brothers—it feels like they pumped a dose of Michael Bay and David Leitch, two filmmakers who remain true to the old school even in the age of streaming, into one film.

The Expendables is particularly adept at compensating for a lack of testosterone, pumping the viewer full of old-school action from the very beginning. After many years, the two giants—through bickering and sharp jokes—find common ground and their father's killer, defeating gangsters and yakuza, one of whom is played by singer Miyavi. And in general, they show that the Hawaiian marine paradise is not as safe as it seems at first glance. The action in the film does not go overboard, but is systematically distributed throughout the plot. There is an apartment brawl where Momoa is not allowed to forget his main acting talents—waving his arms, whether on land or underwater, if we recall the same Aquaman. There is also an impressive chase scene on the highway, for which the entire budget was set aside. There are attempts at a single-shot stunt show—with the same mise-en-scène, staging, and choreography as in Oldboy, only now instead of a hammer, there is the huge, gray-bearded Dave Bautista.

It cannot be said that this spectacular starter produces anything colorful. The uniqueness of Hawaiian communities is unlikely to impress those who have already seen Lilo & Stitch (which is pretty much everyone). Sometimes the adrenaline rush is interrupted by dreary interludes when the brothers try to figure out the reason for their long-standing discord. And when Batista and Momoa do interact, it is through the prism of childish jokes. What connects the two actors and creates chemistry on screen? Probably nothing, except for good genetics and countless hours spent in the gym. The antagonist played by Klas Bang, known for his role in The Square, is not particularly impressive either. The storyline involving bad guys and those responsible for their father's death is included in the film for form's sake: what difference does it make what happens to the villains when we are watching an action movie about brothers?

Otherwise, if you don't ask too many questions, you can cruise down the highway with The Destroyer Squad and have a good time worthy of a Friday night. The film knows which male audience to target (and that audience is around thirty) and how to evoke an old-school effect by loading a single frame with muscles, rock hits, car chases, and, of course, the instructive idea of the need for brotherhood.

You can watch "The Wrecking Crew" at Amazon Prime Video

This article was sponsored by Design Structures Interiors