Buzz
Fans of the Fast & Furious franchise have become accustomed to suspending disbelief to indulge in the grandiose action sequences. Fast X is no exception.
Fast X marks the 10th installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. The saga of the speed-loving 'family' led by Dominic Toretto (portrayed by Vin Diesel) is nearing its conclusion, slated to wrap up after the 11th installment. This time, they face Dante - the son of kingpin Hernan Reyes, who met his demise while chasing Dom in Fast Five (2011).
The film also revisits scenes reminiscent of the fifth installment, notably the group's heist of a vault guarded by Hernan Reyes. Jason Momoa's new antagonist is seamlessly integrated into the existing narrative, providing an impressive character introduction. Audiences immediately grasp the animosity between Dante and Dom, foreshadowing an unforgiving clash between the two factions.
Years later, with a score to settle, Dante seeks revenge on Dominic. However, his aim isn't solely to kill the notorious racer. Following his father's teachings, Dante seeks to make the protagonist's life worse than death. His targets include all loved ones, comrades, or even those who simply aided Dom in the past.
A Thrilling Action Extravaganza in the Spirit of Fast & Furious
Fast X is arguably the largest-scale installment of the franchise to date, reminiscent of Avengers: Infinity War from Marvel and signaling a grand 'Endgame' ahead. According to
Audiences can easily recognize the team's ambition with a series of visually stunning action sequences. Fast X resembles an entertainment feast, serving up all the trademark dishes of the Fast & Furious brand, from thrilling chases and gunfights to one-on-one combat and car acrobatics.
The storyline is also influenced by global espionage thrillers like Bourne, 007... Dominic and his teammates become fugitives after being betrayed by The Agency. They must navigate through various countries to evade capture and track down their enemies. This elite team of racers thus has the opportunity to roam in a variety of exotic locations, from the Antarctic to Europe, and the Americas.
Constantly changing settings provide opportunities for the team to create impressive action set pieces. Audiences will undoubtedly be impressed by the chase and intrigue scenes set in renowned cities such as Vatican, London, Rio de Janeiro... The grandeur of the explosions is also elevated thanks to the project's massive budget.
As usual, the entertainment factor is paramount in all installments of Fast & Furious. The film cleverly integrates action and humor to captivate the audience. Beyond physical fights, characters engage in intriguing verbal sparring on screen. The comedic aspect is mainly embedded in the segments featuring the duo Roman - Tej and uncle Jakob (John Cena).
Another highlight of Fast X is the antagonist Dante portrayed by Jason Momoa. The team chooses to portray him in a rather exaggerated, villainous, cunning yet slightly 'over-the-top' manner, exuding extravagance. Aquaman's actor has ample screen time with a character that boasts various intriguing traits. Additionally, Momoa's constantly changing costumes and hairstyles bring plenty of laughs to the audience.
Fast X Falls Short in Terms of Plot
The screenplay and storytelling of Fast X address many shortcomings of the previous installment. The team knows how to accelerate the pace of the film, limiting lengthy dialogues and empty moral preaching. However, fundamentally, the film lacks standout points to follow. Nonetheless, Fast & Furious isn't a genre of cinema that leaves audiences contemplative or engrossed in character journeys.
The team displays a bit of greed by incorporating too many characters into the film. By now, Dominic's 'family' has recruited many new members. Each person makes an appearance in Fast X, including characters absent from previous installments. This makes the film's plot quite messy and filled with unnecessary scenes.
Fast X still maintains its 'physics-defying' style in action sequences. While not as extreme as launching cars into space like the previous installment, the team still presents audiences with unbelievably ridiculous car stunts on screen. Some plot elements in the film also feel quite forced, especially the conclusion of John Cena's character Jacob at the end.
A significant downside of Fast X is Vin Diesel's acting. Despite limiting most of the lengthy dialogues, the team still dedicates a lot of screen time to Dom's family discussions. These scenes are often shot with close-ups even though Vin Diesel cannot convey many facial expressions convincingly. Furthermore, his dialogue delivery is overly dramatic and slow, affecting the overall fast-paced and suspenseful nature of the film.
Rating: 3.5/5
Fast X still delivers a visual and auditory feast for the audience. Fans of the franchise will undoubtedly enjoy the significantly upgraded scale of action scenes in this installment. However, the film's plot remains somewhat messy and predictable despite the team's efforts to create many twists at the end.
Image Source: IMDb
