The Wrecking Crew

The Wrecking Crew is a DC and Marvel crossover fever dream directed by Ángel Manuel Soto starring Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa. Brutal in its action and quick in its quips, the film follows two estranged half-brothers who are forced to work together to unravel the mystery behind their father’s death. James (Bautista) is a no-nonsense family man with a military background and a lot to protect; Jonny (Momoa) is a wild, mischievous policeman whose antics deter his girlfriend, leaving him with not much else to fight for. As the two dive deeper into the dangerous realm of their father’s private investigator life, they find themselves tangled up with more than a few powerful enemies.

There’s a lot to enjoy in the feature, heralded by a witty script and two charismatic leads with vast capability to capture the nuance of their characters’ arcs. Momoa excels a little bit more than Bautista on both fronts, shining in the comedic moments and carrying the more reflective side of the storytelling. The two are surrounded by the talents of Morena Baccarin, Jacob Batalon and Frankie Adams, elevating the humour and acting as emotional anchors for the two brothers. Claes Bang plays a riveting villain with his perfect balance of quirky and volatile.

The conversational exchanges are entertaining, and the dynamic charm of Momoa and Bautista is unmatched. The Wrecking Crew takes every opportunity to make an expletive and ironic joke, which, by the end of the feature’s two-hour runtime, loses its spark and becomes more tired and overused rather than amusing. While there’s an effort to weave plot and emotional beats alongside high-voltage tussles, the abrupt cuts and transitions are jarring and leave a lingering sense of incompleteness in several scene. Some of the more interesting visual and auditory choices, from the angles and camera movements to the clever soundtrack, accentuate the tension and excitement of these fight sequences. But they do not completely prevent The Wrecking Crew from falling into the traps of predictability. Still, the unanswered questions do hint at a potential sequel, leaving space for an expansion of this world and these characters.

In terms of the familial throughline, the dialogue does most of the heavy lifting with exposition embedded throughout, which dilutes the emotional impact of the friction between James and Jonny. It’s difficult to invest in these characters and their complex relationship when viewers are told about their past rather than shown through meaningful scenes or flashbacks. This is especially true regarding the history surrounding Jonny’s mother and his time in prison. However, what the script lacks, Momoa and Bautista make up for in abundance through sheer magnetism, endearing the audience with their palpable chemistry.

The Wrecking Crew is a sensory experience full of violent delights and lethal thrills, and plenty of laughter to keep fans engaged. There’s genuine heart alongside potent physical combat. It’s an overall high-stakes family affair with Bautista and Momoa the perfect cherry on top.