With so many franchises being turned into films and TV series, it’s rare to find one that hasn’t been tackled yet. Apple TV found uncharted territory from Mattel with their latest film, Matchbox the Movie, inspired by the die-cast toy cars from our childhood. To bring this project to life, the studio tapped a heavy hitting line up of talent that includes John Cena, Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, and Teyonah Parris.
Matchbox the Movie Review Rating: 8/10
The film follows a group of childhood friends who reconnect, and their reunion leads them through a chaotic time as they uncover a dangerous international plot. On the surface and based on the title, you might think you’re in for a story dialed down to the concept of children’s toys.
I can tell you right now, this isn’t that. Sure, the Matchbox cars play a role in the film, but it’s light enough that it doesn’t rely heavily on any prior knowledge. It’s a heartfelt film about friendship and having each other’s backs no matter what.
The Cast & Performances
Screenshot by Reel Movie Junkie
It’s no secret Cena comes from a physical background, and boy, does he kick serious ass. I don’t say that lightly, either. During the over 2-hour runtime, this man is putting belt to ass for about 60% of the film, and it’s thrilling to watch. Yes, he comes from the WWE, but let’s not forget he is just under 50 years old. When you see the fight sequences he pulls off, it’s quite impressive.
Surely there could have been a stunt double used for some portions of it, but it would be far-fetched to believe Cena did a lot of the heavy lifting we see on screen. I got the opportunity to interview the cast ahead of the release, so I 1000% took the chance to commend him on his immense physicality.
The supporting cast isn’t one to glaze over, either. The pack of friends brings on the funny, especially Castro and Richardson, who come from beloved comedy shows we miss so much (Detroiters and Broad City). The Matchbox ladies are fierce, with Biel playing an EMT by day and a race car driver during her free time, and Parris’ role is that of a pilot. Each of the characters has their moments where their profession is a key part of the adventure the gang is on.
Is Matchbox the Movie Worth Watching?
What really works for Matchbox the Movie is the flow, as there is never a dull moment or sequence that you ever feel could have been left out. When it comes to action flicks like this, it’s easy to lose the audience when there’s fluff or unnecessary pieces. As I mentioned before, the heart of the film is friendship and definitely leans heavily into making the viewer think back to their childhood friends. I can easily see there being a sequel to this as there are quite a bit of follow up concepts I can already think of.
This is definitely one of those fun films that doesn’t try too hard to be anything it’s not. There is no magical aspect where the car toys grow into life-size versions, but the idea of the die-cast vehicles is sprinkled in very subtly. That, to me, was the perfect decision to make this the first Matchbox project ever brought to life.
Matchbox the Movie cruises onto Apple TV on October 9th
