Review: ‘Fast X’ doubles down on the wrong things
‘Fast X’ takes the team on a world tour as they try to avoid the wrath of a crazy villain bent on revenge by erasing them from the planet.
It’s been more than 20 years since Dominic Toretto welcomed Brian O’Connor into his den of rubber-burning, car-loving thieves. Since then, the pack has gained and lost many of its members… some more permanently than others. They’ve made allies the world over, creating a reliable network of people they can call on in moments of distress. The team’s international escapades turned them into classified government assets and high-value targets. But time has reweighted the scales, putting greater value on the comforts of home than risky adventures. However, in Fast X, to retain the former they will need to engage in the latter one more time.
Dom (Vin Diesel) has settled into fatherhood, building a home with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and his son, “Little B” (Leo Abelo Perry) The team is less active but tighter than ever, still doing the occasional covert job for the government. Unfortunately, their peace and quiet is blasted into oblivion by a former foe seeking revenge. Dante (Jason Momoa) is an evil mastermind, always staying several steps ahead of the team, using Dom’s love for his family as a weapon against him and a means to make him suffer. But how does one stop a destructive force with a sadistic streak, endless resources and nothing to lose?
This movie takes audiences around the world from the U.S.A to Europe to South America to mystery Black Ops sites. Each country brings new and familiar faces, and mass destruction. There are, of course, impressive wheels, ranging from a gold-plated Lamborghini to a McLaren Senna to American muscle like the Dodge Charger. However, there isn’t as much car play as is typically expected from the franchise. The major stunts bookend the movie, while there’s only one high stakes race. Instead, much of the street action is replaced by an unprecedented amount of hand-to-hand combat, which is unfortunately full of quick cuts and disorienting editing that diminishes the actors’ physical abilities (because who hasn’t been waiting for Letty v. Cipher (Charlize Theron) or Shaw (Jason Statham) v. Han (Sung Kang)). This poor decision-making is only surpassed by a sudden cut to black in the last act that would normally denote a commercial break.
However, the film’s biggest downfall is perhaps the thing that’s tied all the movies together: its emphasis on “family.” It’s a concept that was made top priority day one and has continued to be the glue for more than two decades. But it’s so heavily underscored in this movie, it becomes a punchline as Dom’s relentless commitment to protecting his family is repeatedly tested. Moreover, Alan Ritchson is completely miscast as Aimes, seeming to have been selected for his physique rather than his suitability for the role. On the other hand, Momoa’s villain is deliciously over-the-top as he relishes playing the insane psychopath and delivers the picture’s best moments, singlehandedly raising the movie’s watchability rating. In addition, a lot of unexpected but familiar faces pop up over the course of the film to delight fans and maybe drop their jaws in at least one instance.
Director: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jason Momoa
