It’s all about family, but it seems as though this family has gotten a bit too big. Vin Diesel and company are back with another Fast and Furious film. This one marks the end of the saga as Fast X is the first part of a multi-part ending that will contain either two or three films depending on who you talk to. But has the franchise bitten off more than it can chew? Let’s take a closer look in our review of Fast X.
As the tenth mainline entry in the Fast Saga, there’s a lot of history in this franchise. Most people expect over the top action and ridiculous stunts both in and out of vehicles. All of that’s front and center in Fast X, so you won’t be disappointed there. However, it’s also a step back from F9: The Fast Saga, which saw some members of the family drive off into space.
All of your favorite characters are back, and mostly in character as you would expect. There’s even some character growth for Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (Ludacris), but Jakob (John Cena) feels a bit off. He was a serious death machine in F9, but the character feels more like Peacemaker in Fast X. Almost as if the writers watched The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker and decided they wanted that John Cena character instead of Jakob from F9.
Where the film falters is in just how much they tried to stuff into the movie. There are so many characters doing so many different things, it can be difficult to keep track. Instead of being able to just sit back, turn your brain off, and enjoy the action sequences, you have to keep tabs on where everyone is at, what they’re doing, who they’re after, and even who they’re related to in some cases.
It doesn’t help that there are a number of important references to previous Fast Saga films. While some of those references are easy to follow via on-screen flashbacks, others are much more muddled, and rely on audience knowledge of the previous films. If you haven’t watched a Fast movie in awhile, some character connections may confuse you.
At just under two and a half hours, Fast X does make sure every character has a chance to shine. While that adds a bit to an already convoluted plot, it does make it feel as though every character matters. That’s something other ensemble films haven’t handled very well, so it’s refreshing to see it done properly in Fast X.
As with many other split movie finales, Fast X is only half of the story. This isn’t a full movie that has a satisfying ending. If you want to know how everything ends, you’ll have to come back in two years and watch the next film. This has become common practice in Hollywood, but it’s a detriment to audiences, and is a decision that could end up coming back to haunt the studio.
As a Fast and Furious movie, Fast X is far from the best. While it’s debatable whether or not the new film is the worst in the saga, it does still offer the mindless action fans have come to expect. There are even a few surprises to keep long time franchise fans on their toes. If they had just stuck to the basics instead of trying to cram everything into this “half a film,” things would’ve turned out a bit better.
About Fast X
Synopsis: Dom Toretto and his family are targeted by the vengeful son of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes.
Director: Louis Leterrier
Writers: Dan Mazeau, Justin Lin, Gary Scott Thompson
Stars: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Jason Momoa
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 Hours, 21 Minutes
Bryan Dawson has been writing professionally since the age of 13. He started his career as a video game writer and has since worked for Random House, Prima Games, DirecTV, IGN, AOL, the British Government, and various other organizations. For GNN, Bryan taps into his passion for movies.
