The end of the road begins. Our JP reviews the 10th film of the “Fast & Furious Saga.” The gang is back in “Fast X,” starring Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Michelle Rodriguez, and an all-star cast.
Fast X
(Universal Pictures)
- Directed by Louis Leterrier
- Screenplay by Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin
- Story by Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin, Zach Dean
- Based on Characters by Gary Scott Thompson
- Produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Justin Lin, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Samantha Vincent
- Starring Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Scott Eastwood, Daniela Melchior, Alan Ritchson, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, Rita Moreno, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron
Studio Synopsis:
The end of the road begins. “Fast X,” the tenth film in the “Fast & Furious Saga,” launches the final chapters of one of cinema’s most storied and popular global franchises, now in its third decade and still going strong with the same core cast and characters as when it began.
Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who’s fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything—and everyone—that Dom loves, forever.
J.P’s Take:
The high-octane action juggernaut that is the “Fast & Furious” franchise has become a global phenomenon over its 20-year run. It has reached “Mission: Impossible” status not only at the box office, but in screen presence as well. And if by now you didn’t realize how ridiculously overblown these movies have become, you’ve missed the point. It is truly an exercise in one-upmanship.
“Fast X” boasts more explosions, advanced tech, souped-up vehicles, intrigue, crazier stunts, and even inside jokes. Also, these are films built around their set pieces, as London, Rome, Brazil, and other sophisticated and exotic locales will be the backdrops.
The glue holding the premise together in all subsequent “F&F” movies has been family. “Fast X” is the 10th in the series and bears the brunt of putting the “family” dynamic to the test. Not to mention putting our brain cells to good use in recalling the events from previous outings. Once you dive into the story, you’ll notice things start to blend like one giant jigsaw puzzle. Character arcs intersect with the plot of previous episodes, which meld with this latest plot, formulating the type of saga which warrants a cliffhanger ending. Yet, I won’t give anything away, as if you haven’t been keeping track of all films. You’ll pretty much put two and two together.
The shake-up this time is a new villain, Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), son of Herman Reyes (Joaquim De Almeida, who appeared on “Fast Five”), and the bank vault heist pulled off in the fifth installment. All credit goes to writers Justin Lin and Dan Mazeau (“Wrath of the Titans,” “Damsel”) for having the frame of mind to reach back to mid-series, to draw out a new character. Admittedly this is the all-Dante show, as he toys with our “Fast & Furious” heroes like supervillains do “The Avengers” in a Marvel entity.
I have to applaud Momoa for his fiendish Joker-like performance with flamboyant and diabolical attributes. Momoa laughs hysterically while trapping our four-wheeling heroes and doesn’t bat an eyelash. I could tell he was enjoying himself in the role. Another wonderful addition to the cast is legendary actress Rita Moreno, as “Abuelita” Toretto. She provides the heart and soul to the story as the grandmother of Dom, Mia, and Jakob Toretto (Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster and John Cena).
Director Louis Leterrier directs “Fast X” with furious mellow drama, inside jokes that borderline on self-parody, and uber-action sequences that even Michael Bay would be jealous of. Even tragedy makes its way into the mix. Oh! You can expect the resurrection of certain characters as a surprise.
It’s the type of series that knows what it is and pushes the envelope with each follow-up. “Fast X” will come in three parts, so look for part two to flesh out this cliffhanger. I enjoyed this outing simply for its outlandish presentation and deepening of the lore of these four-wheeling heroes.
Official Site: Fast X