After more than 20 years the Fast franchise is still burning rubber at the theaters. What started as a movie about street racer thieves has turned into a franchise full of car chases, fire, muscles, and explosions. The latest installment of the Fast franchise, Fast X has our team living in the same home as the first movie and the group of Tej, Ramsey, Han, and Roman are about to go on a mission in Rome. Dom and Letty are staying behind with little Brian when they find out the whole mission to Rome is a trap. Yep, right from the beginning the action begins and we are off to Rome.
Ok, if you are new to the Fast franchise do not worry, Alan Ritchson has got you covered. This series is pretty much in on the joke and uses a 10-minute scene of Ritchson’s character, Aimes, retelling their entire story. The scene includes clips from the previous movies and it feels like this scene should have been at the beginning of the movie. While Aimes tells this story to Mr. Nobody’s daughter, played by Brie Larson. We learn that she is on Dom’s side and is going to try to help him and his team.
One thing that the Fast movies have done well to propel their stories forward is either retcon an incident that we have seen previously or insert characters into the previous movies. I mean how can we go through 8 movies and no one ever mentions Dom’s brother, Jacob? Well, it seems that during Fast Five Herman Reyes had a son that was not only witness to the vault being stolen but was on the bridge when his father was killed. Now 10 years later, Dante wants revenge on Dom and everyone he knows. You know, he’s going to come after his family.
Speaking of Dante, Jason Momoa is having a lot of fun in this film. It feels like the director told him “Go crazy with it!” and Momoa took those directions and turned it up to eleven. I will say there are moments that he reminded me of Heath Ledger’s Joker in how animated and dangerous he was but no one will ever surpass that brilliant role. Dante is called the devil by some of the people that have unfortunately crossed his path and lived. Dante has nothing left and will do everything in his power to destroy Dom and his family.
What this franchise is known for is the incredible action sequences. What John Wick is to action sequences involving guns and fist fights, Fast X uses cars and explosions in the same way. There are about 4-5 huge action sequences that defy the laws of gravity and reality. Dom is practically indestructible in his car and if you try to think too hard about how he is able to survive some of these scenes you will lose the fun from watching the movie. At this point in the series, we should suspend all disbelief and just enjoy going on this wild ride with Dom and his family.
Fast X is not without some faults as there are moments that feel like they were just put in as a nod and wink to the fans but no resolution. One moment that I was expecting more from involved a cupcake/muffin. I thought there would be more from this moment but it ended as fast as it started. Keeping in the tradition of the franchise there are a lot of twists, turns, and double-crossing. There are also some new characters introduced and we learn how they tie into the rest of the Toretto clan. Speaking of the Torettos, John Cena has the most underrated role in this film by playing babysitter to his nephew Little B. You will see John Cena in this film! (Wrestling Joke!)
Final Thoughts: After its humble beginnings 20 years ago, the Fast and Furious franchise has gone from a movie about street racing thieves to what it is today: a collection of insane car sequences that make you wonder what they’re going to do next. This chapter gives us more spectacular action scenes and continues to drill the importance of family.
Kid-Friendly: As stated with other franchises that have multiple sequels, if your child has seen one of them they know what to expect. There is hardly any cursing in the movie and John Cena curbs his nephew from using the “s” word.
Violence: There are a multitude of fight scenes in this and some of them are brutal. If you have seen the other movies in this franchise you know what you are in for.
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.
In 2011’s Fast Five, Dom and his crew took out nefarious Brazilian drug kingpin Hernan Reyes and decapitated his empire on a bridge in Rio De Janeiro. What they didn’t know was that Reyes’ son, Dante (Aquaman’s Jason Momoa), witnessed it all and has spent the last 12 years masterminding a plan to make Dom pay the ultimate price.
Dante’s plot will scatter Dom’s family from Los Angeles to the catacombs of Rome, from Brazil to London and from Portugal to Antarctica. New allies will be forged and old enemies will resurface. But everything changes when Dom discovers that his own 8-year-old son (Leo Abelo Perry, Black-ish) is the ultimate target of Dante’s vengeance.