Nerd Alert Movie Review - The Wrecking Crew

On paper, The Wrecking Crew sounds like a Mad Libs fever dream of modern action cinema: Jason Momoa (Aquaman, A Minecraft Movie) and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Army of the Dead) headlining an R-rated action comedy, backed by genre stalwarts Temuera Morrison (The Book of Boba Fett, Aquaman), Morena Baccarin (Firefly, Deadpool), Stephen Root (Office Space, King of the Hill), and Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Reginald the Vampire) , with Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project, Warrior) on script duties and Angel Manuel Soto (Blue Beetle) in the director’s chair. It's almost too much firepower, but, against all odds, it mostly works, and when it works, it’s a blast.

Momoa and Bautista are the engine here, leaning hard into their contrasting screen personas. Momoa plays things loose, chaotic, and charmingly reckless, while Bautista brings his increasingly reliable mix of deadpan humor and bruised-soul gravitas. Their chemistry feels natural, like two guys who know they’re indestructible but are secretly exhausted by it. The movie wisely lets them bicker, bond, and occasionally shut up long enough to let the action do the talking.

Jonathan Tropper’s script keeps the tone light without undercutting the stakes entirely. The jokes land more often than not, especially when Stephen Root shows up to do what Stephen Root always does: steal scenes with minimal effort. Jacob Batalon provides welcome comedic relief that never feels too forced, while Morena Baccarin (one of my eternal crushes) brings a grounded presence that helps keep the movie from floating off into pure cartoon territory. Temuera Morrison, meanwhile, carries an unspoken authority that adds weight to even the silliest moments.

Director Angel Manuel Soto keeps the pacing tight and the action is extremely intense. The fight scenes are brutal without being incoherent, and the R rating is fully earned, this movie doesn’t shy away from bone-crunching hits, colorful language, or the occasional gloriously excessive burst of violence. That said, The Wrecking Crew knows it’s not reinventing the genre, and it doesn’t try to. It’s far more interested in being fun than being profound. It reminds me a lot of the "fun" 80s action buddy comedies like 48 Hours, Tango & Cash, and Lethal Weapon to name a few. I also really appreciated the focus and attention given to the history and culture of Hawaii. I know it's a huge part of Momoa's life, and it's nice to see he promotes what he preaches as he was also a producer with Batista on the film.

Is it predictable? Absolutely. Does it occasionally rely on familiar action-comedy beats? Without question. But it also understands exactly what kind of movie it is and delivers accordingly. The Wrecking Crew is loud, messy, funny, and powered by a cast that clearly enjoys tearing things down together.

If you’re looking for a smart, self-aware action comedy to throw on for a Friday night, this one earns its spot in your streaming queue. It may not be subtle for all audiences, but subtle was never the assignment. Bingpot!

Check out the trailer: