Hawaii Five-0 Is Fun in the Sun

It’s become increasingly difficult to judge a show by its pilot, as TV and movie production values have moved closer together and actors move fluidly between the two outlets. Take, for example, the pilot for Hawaii Five-0, which plays out like any Hollywood movie. On the silver screen, it would feel hackneyed and silly. On the small screen, it feels big, dynamic and totally, totally fun.

In fact I’d venture that this pilot is the diametric opposite of FX's Terriers. Both play with movie conventions. Both have male partnerships at their center. Both boast excellent filming and actors. But pretty much everything I didn’t like about Terriers, I liked about the first episode of Hawaii Five-0.

I think I’ll credit it to the central relationship of Alex O’Loughlin as Detective Steve McGarrett and Scott Caan as Detective Danny “Danno” Williams, who have awesome chemistry together.

Perfectly mismatched, you’d expect them to be “buttoned up cop” and “wacky cop,” but both play both roles perfectly, slipping back and forth. They have a loose, casual rapport that’s hilarious, natural and totally works. You believe that they hate each other - but will keep working with each other, because they know they're the best chance they've got to clean up the dirty, dirty island of Hawaii.

So what else works? The score is kind of awesome; driving, exciting and as good as any action movie. The direction is top notch, evocative of a Michael Bay movie without the freneticism (the whole show is clearly going for a Bad Boys style vibe). And hey, James Marsters is the bad guy! That’s pretty cool. Plus, the whole thing clips along at a breakneck pace. It’s certainly the most engaging and fun pilot I’ve watched so far this Fall.

The problem is, to get back to the original point... How will this look after the first episode? Can it keep up the dynamic pace, exciting mysteries and fresh, fun dialogue? Or once the original staff – and budget – jump ship, will the show look like everything else on TV? I’ll tell you what: I’m definitely tuning in to the next episode to find out.

Random Notes:

• James Marsters, William Sadler, Grace Park, Daniel Dae Kim... So many genre actors, in so little time!
• Thank freaking god the opening scene wasn’t in media res. I was expecting to get “36 hours earlier,” but instead, we cut ahead! This show is awesome already. [NOTE: written in the first five minutes of the show.]
• White rabbit! This is a sequel to LOST!
• “Is this your kid?” “Yeah, that’s stunning detective work.” 
• Scott Caan’s Psycho ring tone is pretty hilarious.
• That gigantic guy from Forgetting Sarah Marshall can only get work playing a Hawaiian bartender, I guess?
• Nice cut to our heroes wearing the shave ice shirts.
• If they change one thing for the next episode, I hope Grace Park gets other things to do be sexualized and stripped naked. Sigh.
• Man, I never get tired of people crashing trucks through walls.