The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wrecking Crew (2026) Written Review

If you needed to find two non-related actors to portray brothers, who would you cast? The combination of Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa honestly feels quite inspired. These are two large men who have ancestry around the Pacific. Bautista might be Filipino and Momoa is Hawaiian, but they are more believable than many brother combinations in film (they certainly aren’t Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito). These two broad, powerful men headline the new Amazon MGM Studios action, crime thriller, The Wrecking Crew. Estranged brothers (one a strait-laced military man and the other is a mercurial cop) come together to solve the murder of their estranged father. You are taking a trip to the beautiful islands of Hawaiian, right into the thick of a violent and dangerous thriller. 

How does director Angel Manuel Soto leverage this strong set up? The film has a lot to admire from a filmmaking standpoint with a few obvious weak points. This is an action heavy film and when things are practical, it really shines. The camera work is quite effective and dynamic as it puts the audience right into chaos. They also avoid overly editing the action which makes it more engrossing and thrilling. But whenever they must rely on CGI too much, the film becomes distractingly artificial. This is frustrating since it undercuts plenty of strong action. Tonally, the film is a little shaky. The more emotional moments are effective and do grab the audience in a meaningful way. There are plenty of laughs to be had even if some of the dialogue falls flat. Pacing-wise, this is a two-hour film that feels only slightly long at points. There is good energy going and that propels the film forward with a nice mix of fun vibes and a weightier feel. The film can get quite brutal with some of the action being bloody and gory…so be prepared. 

Does the screenplay from Jonathan Tropper make the most of this set-up? The film leans into many safe tropes along the way but there is enough effective writing to make the most of the scenario. The brother dynamic at the center is believable, authentic, and is given enough weight to draw the audience in. The “odd couple” dynamic plays well and it is fun to see when they align with each other. Bautista’s James is a reserved, strong, and intense individual who is cool to watch on screen. Momoa’s Jonny is an effective mixture of cool and abrasive. There are some jokes and references that feel too clunky and on-the-nose to be fully effective. The mystery certainly has some “twists” and “turns” but they are telegraphed clearly and lean too much into expectations for this to truly surprise you. The film is indeed about family and community which reflects and respects the perspectives of Hawaiian culture as well. Some of the characters are annoyingly convenient in skill set (looking at Jonny’s girl (Morena Baccarin) specifically. The script does have some genuinely hilarious moments, and good banter served up for Bautista and Momoa to play with.

Does this stacked cast deliver as well? Bautista is the emotional anchor for the film as he delivers a sturdy, intense performance. Momoa gets to lean into the quips and snarky attitude that works well for him. The chemistry between the two is quite effective as each of their conflicting attitudes and personal traits makes their dynamic full of laughs, tension, and (eventually) connection. An unsung piece of the film is Roimata Fox who slips right into the role of Leila (James’ wife). Her natural charisma shines on screen. You have an interesting mix of character actors who do some solid work. Temuera Morrison is nice to see if a film full of Polynesian performers. Claes Bang delivers a fun and effective antagonistic turn as a wealthy man at the center of the mystery Stephen Root gets to have fun as an angry detective. Morena Baccarin’s character might be frustratingly written but she just has too much presence and charisma to ignore. Jacob Batalon is fun…and annoying on screen. One of the most fun minor characters is Mr. K, a leader of a local gang, and Branscombe Richmond leans into some wild facial hair and charisma to leave an impression. Only utilized in a few scenes, Maia Kealoha (Lilo from the new Lilo & Stitch) is quite adorable. 

Is The Wrecking Crew a worthwhile experience over on Prime Video? For an action/thriller going straight to streaming, this one stands out in a good way. Sure, the CGI looks bad and the plot can be overly convoluted, but this has plenty to enjoy. The action is thrilling and good! Bautista and Momoa make a charismatic duo that anchor the film down. Plenty of good laughs and plenty of thrills, Angel Manuel Soto has another fun flick under his belt.