Fast X is pure popcorn lunacy and one hell of an entertaining wild ride, and the end of the road has definitely begun.
Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family have outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they must confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced. Fueled by revenge, a terrifying threat emerges from the shadows of the past to shatter Dom’s world and destroy everything — and everyone — he loves.
The music has always been one of the best parts of this franchise. The tracklist has attitude and energy, much like the movie, and a mixture of songs with that Fast edge. With techno beats and upbeat songs during transitions to reset the tone and make you want to download the soundtrack. The attitude comes with the rap songs and delivers that edge that audiences love in these films. These great tracks blend everything together and are the definition of fast and furious.
With a movie that focuses so much on visual editing, sound is a key element to maximize the chaos that is to come. The film uses big booms to help get that theater experience with resonating sound factors that shake the walls and give you that adrenaline rush. The action sequences are loaded with the same energy – guns blazing with powerful bangs, punches having that kung fu-like finish, and of course, plenty of aggressive energy to keep you engaged at the moment.
The movie is fast and, like the cars, turns the ignition on and keeps the gas running at full speed to get as many action moments in as they can. It has enough use of the brakes to slow down and put a story in and manages to not harbor too much to get lost so that we get back to the high-octane moments and speed as the war between Dom and Dante heats up.
The movie has a lot of characters and continues to add more in this film, along with some surprising returns. Fast X does a good job of handling all these characters, making sure that their inclusion is worth the investment. Now, is it perfect? No, as there are some characters that are there for a brief cameo and may or may not reappear in the next film. But, you do get adequate time with all of them.
The Fast Saga is all about these epic bad guys and, some do have that factor. The series has gone from stereotypical crooks to elite bad guys with James Bond-type skills making them memorable. This film ups that ante, combining both of those things and delivering a crazy villain who could be a sillier version of the Joker. Jason Mamoa was brilliant as the bad guy Dante, and the direction they took him in was admirable as there is a reason, skills, resources, and a threat that carries throughout the film. It’s sinister, scary, and just what this series needs to help freshen things up as we get ready for the end.
Overall, Fast X was pretty darn good, but it is just a movie that continues to lose track of its roots and goes into an anime-centric vibe. However, this series is just stupid fun, pure popcorn lunacy with lots of stunts and CGI to get lost in. The film plays well with the characters, adds those special moments that ignite the theater experience, and keeps it at a pace much like Dom’s car, fast, powerful, and somehow resistant. Yet, the movie has a fractured plot and continues to draw out stories and tries to suspend predictability which is not working when there is no commitment. The series is reaching soap opera levels, and this film did cram a lot of stuff, with action that sometimes felt a bit forced. Is it terrible? Absolutely not, but this movie is not standing on its own and is leaning heavily toward the next movie.
Fast X is now playing in theaters.
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