Fast X, the tenth Fast & Furious film in the franchise, is guaranteed to deliver everything fans have grown to love about this series of action spectacles punctuated by high-octane floor exhilaration and generations-old family conundrums. From director Louis Leterrier and bringing back franchise veterans such as Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Tyrese Gibson in addition to newbies like Jason Momoa, Fast X aims to transport you on an epic ride across the globe full of fast cars, explosive action, and tons of tension.
With that in mind, our review of the film is going to examine the plot, performances action set pieces, and its overall impact while also dissecting where it fits within the franchise and what it means for further entries.
Plot Summary
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — and the Fast & Furious family is working as well as ever in Fast X, centered around a love of cars, action blow-outs, and cast chemistry. The movie starts with Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) who is experiencing a brand-new adversary based on his past. Jason Momoa plays Dante Reyes, the son of Fast Five’s (2011) defeated drug lord Hernan Reyes. Hoping to avenge his father’s death, Dante quietly plots to take down Dom’s clan, igniting an epic game of debilitating cat and mouse through the streets of multi-continental cities.
The stakes are higher than ever, as Dante takes aim not only at Dom’s son but also at his friends and allies. With Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), and Han returning to action and working together, they must outsmart Dante and with the help of Mia, they must avoid all his traps. The film also marks the return of some familiar faces, like Shaw (Jason Statham), and a few surprises that should have fans of the franchise excited.
The story digs at a central family core, but this time around it hits a lot closer to home for Dom. Being the father he is, not only does he fight for his loved ones but because this time round its his own son, it adds emotion to all of the explosive action.
Performances
Fast X revives a mix of old favorites and new characters. Vin Diesel once more belatedly takes the helm as Dom Toretto, and with it comes a very recognizable performance– tough, taciturn, and burning with mute aggression. As ever, Diesel approaches Dom with his DNA-as-family attitude that is pour to be shaken. Diesel introduces a different flavor here: one of vulnerability, especially through his interactions with his son.
One particular standout is Michelle Rodriguez as Letty, who exudes a lot of her signature tough action-hero charm to the film and helps anchor some of its wilder material with hints of reality. The script still isn’t particularly great, but at least Tyrese Gibson and Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges crack a smile or two as Roman and Tej respectively which helps lighten the mood.
However, the true standout is Jason Momoa as Dante Reyes. Momoa plays Dante with swagger in what is a scene-stealing, blustering performance that keeps Aloha itself on tenterhooks. He gives us a villain who is both fabulously over-the-top (see that flamenco coat he wears) and legitimately scary, so much of it that you can consider Dante one of the most iconic villains from the franchise. Momoa brings new life to Fast X, and he makes for some of the movie’s best ensemble moments.
Action and Stunt Sequences
Fast X comes to this party with the requisite envelope-pushing action that no Fast & Furious film is complete without. This film is loaded with car chases, gun-wielding maniacs and life-or-death stunts that defy all logic. Fast 10 is very good at giving you high-octane set pieces, from cars driving through helicopters to street races engulfing an entire city.
Its climax features a gigantic rolling bomb exploding onto the streets of Rome, setting off the kind of high-speed chase that combines practical effects with CGI wizardry in all those unforgettable (and massively gross) ways. Everything from the action set pieces to the choreography of each is perfection, truly offering a spectacle that will have audiences on the edge of their seats.
But the film also knows when to rein it in a bit, dialing down into the more personalform of action scenes of fisticuffs or quick, tactical standoffs. This balance helps keep the pace from becoming overbearing and gives viewers a chance to catch their breath between the bigger action-orientated sequences.
Direction and Cinematography
Director Louis Leterrier takes over for Fast & Furious 7’s Director James Wan but brings a unique view to the familiar world, and keeps things larger than life as fans of the series have become accustomed. Leterrier is no stranger to action (see the Transporter series, Clash of the Titans), and his kinetic style fits well with the manic energy of the series.
Featuring the most incredible locations on Earth – Hong Kong, London, and Samoa–The film cinematographer Stephen F. Windon does a stunning job of shooting grand vistas as well as heart-pumping action shots like no other. From the action side of things, it features some exquisite camera work that really places you right in amongst the chaos and conveys proper speed and danger throughout every twist.
Themes of Family and Loyalty
Family is a theme that has been at the heart of the Fast series since its inception, and Fast Xdoes not waver from that focus. This is what raises the emotional bar and stakes in this adrenaline action thriller; redemption for Dom, loyalty to his crew and an unbreakable bond with his son. Again, just as a constant reminder throughout the film and not that it needed to be harped upon this much, but if anything keeps surfacing in Incredibles 2 then it is family… not your actual blood relatives (though a big point of the movie is literal parenting too) but the ones you choose to stand with.
At the core, it’s personal for Dom this time around and with a storyline that revolves around his role as a father, providing what might be some of the most meaningful dramathat has ever been tried involving cars (which is to say not much). The film’s most emotional moments come with the father-son bond between Dom (Vin Diesel) and his son, putting real consequences to their high-octane actions.
The Fast X and the Future Beyond The Fast
Fast X is the tenth filmin the Fast & Furious series, and as such, it promises both a continuation and a turning of the tide. Expecting too much is setting yourself up for disappointment, this delivers everything you might expect; fast cars, high-octane sequences, and warm fuzzies but it also feels like a bridge to the grand finale of the saga. Ending in suspense, the movie lays the foundation for what could be our closing thoughts on this decades-long series.
Promising new alliances, divisions among friendsand more character exploration than ever before, Fast X lays the foundation for what could be an explosive final chapter. This is a satisfying chapter, one that serves as a great lead-in to whatever comes next for fans.
Final Thoughts — Audience Opinions AND ROCKY RECORDS PERFORMANCES
Critics and audiences have given a mixed-to-a-little-above-average response to Fast X. The Hollywood Reporter noted the film has resonated with fans of the franchise, especially due to its “crowd-pleasing” action-scenes and performances from Jason Momoa or Vin Diesel. A few critics did find that the narrative lacked any substantial validation, though even then, they felt it still stood pretty well to its entertainment value.
Fast X MK The franchise has done well at the worldwide box office just as before, with good numbers. This internationalmarketability, as it plays in China and Latin America throughout January, means the film will continue to be a box office monster.
Final Verdict
Fast Xis an awesome new entry in the Fast & Furious franchise and has a distinct style from both earlier films, as it brings fans all of the high-intensity action sequences, emotional family beats, and silly stunts and set pieces they expect. It is not so much breaking any storytelling boundaries but damn if it does not work as pure cinematic spectacle and how effectively it sets the franchise up for future installments.
Fans of the franchise expecting nothing but pure fast-paced fun are not going to be disappointed with Fast 10. It’s the type of film that is meant to be seen on the largest screen possible with an audience full of actionfans who will appreciate every explosion and vehicular chase as larger than life.
