As franchises become ever more dominant as a Hollywood staple, the Fast and the Furious series has avoided franchise fatigue by continually raising the stakes with each entry. This changes in the latest installment, “Fast X.” Despite the series proverbially jumping the shark by sending a car to space in the last film, the over-the-top action scenes are somewhat more restrained here.
This does not mean grounded. The bombastic sequences you’d expect are still present, but more in line with previous entries. Despite this reduction in scale, “Fast X” still manages to maintain its momentum and deliver an enjoyable package, but not anything that leaves a lasting impression.
“Fast X” starts where its predecessor left off. Dom Torreto (Vin Diesel) is living a peaceful life with his family when he’s confronted by his past. The son of a corrupt politician, Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), seeks him out to find revenge for his father’s death in “Fast Five,” setting in motion another grand adventure that will require the copious use of sports cars and nitro-fuel tanks.
Despite some action scenes being a little uninspired (besides a great opener in Rome), they are well-shot, easy to follow and progress the story in meaningful ways. Not once throughout the movie did I feel that one was dragging out its runtime.
The actors do a decent job with the mediocre material they’re given, especially Jason Momoa. He brings a somewhat interesting twist on the sociopathic villain, and while it’s nothing particularly new, he plays off the Toretto clan in entertaining ways. John Cena also does a great job as Jakob, playing a fun uncle that strays outside his usual role as a macho man. The rest bring decent performances. They aren’t standouts, but they don’t detract from the experience either.
It becomes evident throughout the movie that it knows how ridiculous the franchise has become. The constant use of “family” seems almost like a punchline, with Vin Diesel bringing it up in nearly every scene, and characters mentioning how their “family” seems like a cult focused around cars. This self-awareness helps keep the film’s more absurd beats in check. The filmmakers know this plot is ridiculous, and they’re making fun of themselves along the way.
Recent statements from Diesel seem to suggest that this could be the first of a three-part finale to the series rather than ending with Fast 11, the next release. I doubt that this story could hold momentum through three feature-length films, but with the money this franchise is making, Universal is unlikely to say no.
For all the jokes about the movie’s ridiculous elements, I respect its commitment to making the stakes feel real. So often when a franchise finale comes out, writers seem unwilling to make hard choices about killing characters. “Fast X” thankfully eschews this trend. In this case, the deaths give the villain’s threats some weight; when Reyes says that he wants to “destroy” Dom’s family, it feels like he could actually follow through with it.
The best quality of the movie is how solid it is. Its pacing and writing help it stand out in a genre that’s had a number of duds recently. While it’s not going to stick with you for long, “Fast X” delivers what it promises—an enjoyable adventure.
