The "Fast & Furious" franchise seemingly did the impossible by turning a straightforward heist film about stealing DVD players into a full-on action franchise. While the next film with the core crew isn't due until next year, two of the supporting players have spun off into their own movie, and the result is just as enjoyable as the mainline films.

"Hobbs & Shaw" brings together Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and former-criminal-turned-ally Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) in an unwanted alliance in order to save the world from a deadly virus. The plot is contrived, the witty one-liners come out fast and furiously, and I think Universal may have blown up more things than a small army to make this film, but it all works.

The odd couple of special agents decides to work together because the threat to the world is both real and personal. MI6 agent Hattie Shaw (Vanessa Kirby) has infected herself with a viral bioweapon in order to keep it out of the hands of techno terrorist Brixton "I'm black Superman" Lore (Idris Elba). Hobbs wants to save the world. Shaw wants to save his sister. They just have to do it all without killing each other first.

The chemistry of the two leads is what draws you into the film, but Elba is also given plenty of time to chew the scenery. All three of them know they're in an absurd film, and they just dive headlong into the silly and the stupid. If any of them tried to play it completely straight, something would have felt off. Instead, they're all acting as though "Hobbs & Shaw" is a live-action anime, and it's brilliant.

As a villain, Lore is basically an evil version of Deus Ex's Adam Jensen. He's been augmented by technology, is incredibly durable, and has impeccable reflexes. Lore also has a motorcycle that apparently doubles as a transformer because it can appear out of nowhere when needed. He is also pretty much invulnerable for most of the film, with our heroes only escaping due to plot armor. Like I said, live-action anime.

Lest you think the film is just over-the-top testosterone (and to be fair, much of it is), Kirby's Hattie Shaw is far from a damsel in distress. Even in her infected state, she's more than capable of holding her own, going toe-to-toe with the bad guys, as well as Hobbs and Shaw. After her run in "Mission Impossible: Fallout" and now here, I wouldn't be surprised if Kirby becomes known as an action star. Still, she's not the only strong woman in the film. Helen Mirren reprises her role as matron of the Shaw family, while Lori Pelenise Tuisano plays Sefina Hobbs, a no-nonsense woman who disciplines her grown children by throwing shoes at them.

Other memorable appearances are Ryan Reynolds as special agent Locke and Kevin Hart as air marshal Dickley.

The stunt work and fight choreography is what you'd expect from director David Leitch ("Atomic Blonde," "Deadpool 2", "John Wick"). While the close-quarters combat isn't quite up to the level of John Wick, that's my only real complaint. Interestingly enough, the larger set pieces almost feel as though they were inspired by video games. As our heroes were racing through the terrorist lair, it played out very much like a game level. Even the final battle, complete with slow-motion sequences, looked like it could have been a final boss QTE sequence.

The movie doesn't suffer for it; it's merely an observation, and not an unlikely one given that the tools and techniques used for both aren't that far off from one another.

"Hobbs & Shaw" may have spun off from "Fast & Furious," but it has more in common with 1980s buddy cop movies than the franchise that birthed it. Cross "Lethal Weapon" with "Mission Impossible," and you have "Hobbs & Shaw." It's gloriously absurd, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Score: 8.0/10

"Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 2 hours and 18 minutes. It is showing in 2D, 3D and IMAX.

Editor's Note: Be sure to stay until the very end of the credits.