Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Language, violence in generic racing action movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Overhaul
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In Overhaul, Roger (Thiago Martins) is a professional truck racing driver struggling to win on the track. He and his racing crew are facing a financial crunch, and Roger refuses to listen to those who are trying to help him, from his father who bankrolls the team, to his lead mechanic Danilo. But when his father is hit and killed by a bus, Roger must find a way to financially support himself and his team. Enter Odilo (Evandro Mesquita), a local gangster to whom Roger's father owed money. In order to pay off the debt and bring in money to restart his racing career, Roger reluctantly agrees to take on work as a getaway driver in a cargo smuggling ring. While the work is risky, Roger brings in Danilo, and they soon are making money again, resulting in Roger being able to get his truck fixed. He begins winning some races. But Roger soon discovers that getting out from under Odilo and his gangster henchmen is not as easy as he had hoped, and as things take a turn for the worse, Roger must find a way to extricate himself from Odilo's clutches.
Is It Any Good?
This is an unremarkable truck racing movie that is both, um, fast and furious. In its style and vast collection of cliches, Overhaul is a Brazilian answer to The Fast and Furious franchise, and instead of Vin Diesel's Dom, we get Thiago Martins' Roger -- a down-on-his-luck also-ran on the semi-truck racing circuit, called a "brat" by the father who bankrolls Roger's racing team, and by Debora, Roger's foil on the track and (wait for it) potential love interest.
When Roger's actions and lack of wins leads to sponsorship losses and personal tragedy, he decides to accept an offer to work as a getaway driver for cargo smuggling gangsters. This works out in a big way for Roger, and, as it turns out, working for gangsters on the streets of Rio de Janeiro is a delightful way to earn a living, and Roger has found his true calling. No, it's not like that at all, obviously, and what ensues is a vast collection of cliched action, cliched characters, and a cliched ending.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about racing action movies like Overhaul. How is this similar to and different from other racing action movies you've seen?
Does this movie glamourize aggressively fast driving, or is it too ridiculous to take seriously? Why?
Was the language necessary to the story, or did it seem excessive? Why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 27, 2023
- Cast : Thiago Martins , Evandro Mesquita , Raphael Logam
- Director : Tomas Portella
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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