The Wrecking Crew (2026) Review: Momoa + Bautista, Brotherhood, Brawls and Bad Jokes in The Wrecking Crew

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source : tv.lk21

Published: Febuary 4, 2026 | Edited: October 10, 2026

Synopsis:

The Wrecking Crew (2026) is an action comedy directed by Angel Manuel Soto. Released on January 28, 2026, on the Prime Video platform and this film has a runtime of 2 hours 2 minutes. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 75% critics, 68% audience. It rose to No.1 on Prime Video in the US, UK, Brazil, Germany within 3 days of release.

On the streets of Hawaii, two half-brothers who have been estranged for 20 years, James Hale and Jonny Hale, who don't get along, are forced to reunite because of the mysterious death of their father, Walter Hale. At first they just want to find out why their father died. But it turns out Walter kept a flash drive that is the key to a digital wallet containing millions of dollars + evidence of offshore bribery transactions. They must uncover the truth behind their father's death and it brings them into a big conspiracy involving the construction of a casino on Hawaiian Home Lands.

It turns out the mastermind is Marcus Robichaux. He collaborates with the yakuza led by Nakamura to bribe the local Governor, Peter Mahoe, so he can legalize gambling and build a casino on Hawaiian Home Lands. Walter was murdered because he uncovered it. The kidnapping of Leila and Nani makes them have to wreck everything, storm Robichaux's house, fight against the Yakuza, anything is done until the Governor is caught. Its official tagline: "They fight like brothers. They wreck like legends."

Reviews of this film are generally positive, with many critics praising the chemistry between Momoa and Bautista. The bromance is natural because they are besties in real life. They succeeded in combining elements of action, comedy, and family drama well. However, some critics mention that the plot is a bit simple. The conspiracy plot is easy to guess, casino on indigenous land, corrupt governor. But that's not really the point.

This film stars: Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista, Jacob Batalon, Morena Baccarin, Roimata Fox and more.

In my opinion:

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Aloha.. I got a good film. The combination of Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista is indeed cool. This is an action comedy film I think. For now, Jason Momoa is indeed famous for his eccentric humor. By involving these two great actors (plus Morena Baccarin and Jacob Batalon), it's certainly not a cheap film. Proven by good visuals and audio, neat cinematography. This film meets my expectations, action, humor and a cool story.

With various good elements above, there are still shortcomings in this film. When I hear Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista, I will imagine brutal heroic scenes. But in this film, it feels very half-hearted. Even though the charisma of the two of them is very cool when in a hectic battle.

As information, this film involves the Yakuza. You can imagine the chaos that can be caused when involving the Yakuza (just look at John Wick and Kill Bill Vol.1). Moreover, coupled with the syndicate in Hawaii, the battle should be very magnificent and brutal (this film is given the title "Wrecking Crew" because there is a purpose, right?).

This is not a film that wants to be John Wick. This is a popcorn flick 80s-style. The Yin-Yang chemistry of Momoa (who is noisy, party animal) vs Bautista (who is chill, stoic) is the main selling point. Bautista himself has lost a lot of weight so the contrast is even more visible. Personally I like the film and I recommend it for a movie night with friends.

For me this one is 7.5/10.

Knowledge Center:

Yakuza in Hawaii: The Real Underworld Behind The Wrecking Crew (2026). While The Wrecking Crew shows Jonny and James fighting Yakuza in paradise, the history is real. Timeline: 1880s Japanese immigration for sugarcane plantations, 1920s-1940s gambling dens in Honolulu Chinatown, 1960s-1980s rise of 'The Company' Hawaiian Syndicate with Yakuza ties, 2000s-2020s shift to modern meth trafficking. Educational overview of organized crime history in Hawaii.

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Maybe many viewers think the Yakuza villain in The Wrecking Crew is just Hollywood fantasy to make it look cool. Jason Momoa vs Japanese gangsters in Hawaii. But in fact, all of that has a real history. Let's briefly discuss the true story of the Yakuza in Hawaii in this KC column.

1880s — The Beginning, Sugarcane 

Workers. In the late 19th century, a large wave of Japanese immigrants came to Hawaii to work on sugarcane plantations. Among them, there were members of the Yakuza who saw the island as a new frontier. They took advantage of the booming economy and the diverse population.

1920s-1940s — Illegal Gambling and Alcohol. 

They focused on prohibited businesses such as gambling houses, illegal liquor sales in the Prohibition era, and prostitution. In Chinatown Honolulu and Kalihi, they built gambling dens. They were smart at making strategic alliances with local gangs China Triad, Korean Kkangpae, and Samoa.

1960s-1990s — The Era of 'The Company'. 

This was the golden era of the Hawaiian mafia. Through the 1960s, organized crime was controlled by Asian organizations such as Triad, Yakuza, Kkangpae, Samoa. In 1962, a Korean named George Chung made his own organization. After he was shot dead in 1967 in Honolulu, there was a power vacuum. Emerged The Company, also called Hawaiian Syndicate, formed in 1969 by Wilford Pulawa (Native Hawaiian). This statewide syndicate controlled racketeering, illegal gambling, drugs, extortion, and prostitution until the mid-1990s. Its main rivals? 14K Triad and Yamaguchi-gumi (the largest Yakuza). One iconic case was in 1976, Wataru 'Jackson' Inada, ex-boxer with Yakuza Sumiyoshi federation tattoo, was found murdered in a Honolulu apartment because of a failed heroin deal. That made the FBI really consider the Yakuza as a federal threat in the US.

1980s-Now — Meth Trade. In the 80s and 90s, Yakuza was involved in meth trade in Hawaii. Until 1994, the boss of a Yakuza subgroup was sentenced in federal court in Hawaii for importing and distributing meth. Now, organized crime in Hawaii is more fragmented, from the remnants of The Company, Triad, Yakuza, and Samoan gangs, all running their own businesses.

So the Yakuza is not identical only existing in Japan. This legendary group expands its wings to even contrasting places, like Hawaii. Amazing, isn't it?