Fast X Movie Review: Vin Diesel-Starrer Fulfils Campy Fun Expectations But Absurdity Takes The Wheel

After travelling to the International Space Station in the previous installment, F9, the Fast & Furious franchise has now wisely returned to focusing on earthly boundaries in Fast X. This newest movie in the series is an unrestrained and exhilarating experience that pushes the limits of human capability, vehicles, and thrilling action sequences.

Under the direction of franchise veteran Louis Letterier, the film shoulders the task of envisioning inventive methods for presenting intense stand-offs while also laying the groundwork for a sequel planned for 2025.

The events in the movie establish connections with previous installments of the Fast & Furious franchise, particularly the fifth film. Dom's endearing son, Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), has reached an age where he can be introduced to The Legacy, a concept that holds great importance to Dom.

Plot

Fast X does not strive to simply "go bigger" but rather to venture into more extreme realms. While the crew did not venture into outer space this time, this larger-than-life melodrama takes pleasure in defying the laws of gravity and human capabilities, all for the sake of entertaining its audience.

It kicks off with a daring heist in Rome, involving an RC Racer, a luxurious gold Lamborghini, and a dozen canisters of laughing gas. A massive spherical bomb, engulfed in flames, careens through the city's ancient cobbled streets, making its way straight towards the Vatican. The film concludes with an explosive and suspenseful cliffhanger that leaves viewers on the edge of their seats.

Let's be frank, the plot of the movie is illogical. Remember in The Fate of the Furious (2017) when Charlize Theron's character, Cipher, was introduced as the ultimate villain and the most wicked mastermind? Well, forget about that, because now she shows up at the home of Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), his wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), and their son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), warning them that the true ultimate villain and the most sinister mastermind is a man named Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa).

Interestingly, Dante is retroactively inserted into the thrilling high-speed car chase scene involving a dragged safe in Fast Five (2011), as the son of former Fast antagonist Hernan Reyes. Dante's quest for vengeance, which apparently took him a decade to act upon, consumes him entirely to the point that he relentlessly pursues anyone and everyone associated with what one disgruntled authority figure describes as "a cult with cars."

Cast

Dom Toretto, portrayed by Vin Diesel, continues to emphasise the significance of family and friendship as he confronts a fresh nemesis. The antagonist's name hints at the movie's Christian-inspired themes and the fiery challenges awaiting Dom and his team.

Dante, portrayed by Jason Momoa, has a penchant for wearing jackets made of crocodile skin and causing explosive chaos. With a laughter reminiscent of the unpredictable villains from Batman, Dante could have been considered charming if it weren't for his unwavering desire for revenge. Momoa's comical twirling outshines the comedic antics of Fast & Furious regulars Roman (played by Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (portrayed by Ludacris), leaving them in the dust of his amusing performance.

The movie also includes an ensemble cast of Jason Statham, Brie Larson, John Cena, Charlize Theron, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Scott Eastwood, Alan Ritchson, and Rita Moreno. However, their presence gives the impression that they are fulfilling a necessary obligation by taking part in the family reunion storyline.

What works for the series?

This particular installment of Fast and Furious unquestionably ranks among the most rapid and intense of the franchise. The dialogue is simplified to brief catchphrases and light-hearted humour, while the action remains relentless. Surprisingly, Leterrier manages to maintain a coherent and well-paced narrative, ensuring that the storyline flows smoothly and remains comprehensible.

Leterrier stepped in to helm the film after series regular Justin Lin departed early in production, allegedly due to creative disagreements with Diesel. It appears that Leterrier's primary direction to the actors was simply to have fun and stay true to themselves.

What doesn't work?

The emphasis of this movie is more on the stunts rather than the story. It gives the impression of a peculiar collection of disjointed scenes merged together. Every aspect is amplified to an extreme level - from the thrilling vehicle exploits and explosions to the intense hand-to-hand combat and abundant use of CGI.

Considering the significant budget, the special effects could have been executed more impressively. The fundamental flaw of Fast X is its attempt to appear more intelligent than it actually is, resulting in a convoluted mess devoid of any fresh elements.

Final Verdict

Leterrier's accomplishment in bringing together a colossal, intricately woven, worldwide, mind-boggling blockbuster is commendable. The film, with a runtime of 140 minutes, truly lives up to its title: it surpasses its previous editions in terms of speed, being ten times faster, and it also outshines the majority of them in terms of quality.

Of course, for the dedicated fanbase that propelled this franchise to become one of the largest in the world, Fast X manages to meet the anticipated criteria of providing enjoyable and over-the-top entertainment. However, at its essence, the movie epitomises a level of absurdity that is hard to surpass.