It's finally happened - this series has run out of petrol. Tired stunts, the word family said 800 times, a string of cameos/lame callbacks, two very crap baddies (Jason Momoa & Alan Ritchson), and you never believe for a second anybody stays dead for long. It's become a parody of its parts. Finally Super Fast has the sequel it's been waiting for.
3 out of 10 - MOT failure - Worst in the cycle by a long way
Just when you thought it was all over..... From the B movie style of the first couple of street racer actioners this series has metamorphosed into a Mission Impossible style über action thriller set of films that get ever more daft and overcranked but are ceaselessly entertaining. If you're a big fan then you won't worry that it's getting even harder to separate the films as they all follow a similar pattern and storyline as the group of street racers now super covert agents keep coming back for another mission that drops in, albeit very swiftly, in various cities across the world as they fight the new baddie. In this case it's Jason Momoa playing the son of the villain from the 5th film who was killed by the team and he's now seeking revenge. Momoa camps it up nicely as he sets trap after trap to try and nail Dom (Vin Diesel) who grumbles his way through the film basically by mumbling 'family' at every and all occasion. The plot is incidental in these films as its all about huge set piece chases and fights with the requisite street race thrown in just to remind you it's a Fast & Furious film. All and sundry pop up in cameos and support roles such as Helen Mirren, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, Brie Larsen, Scott Eastwood, John Cena and Dwayne Johnson in a mid end credits taster for the inevitable Part 2 that is to come. So yes this ends on a cliffhanger hence it's not the last film. There's been better films in this enduring franchise than this one but it fits exactly as you'd expect into the series.
The biggest highlight of this tenth Fast & Furious film is the addition of Jason Mamoa as the villain Dante. Though he has his motives for getting revenge on Dom and his crew, he’s played up as an eccentric comic book villain. He’s a character who realizes he’s in a Fast & Furious movie and that these action pictures of manic and wild car chases are loud and over-the-top. His flamboyant attitude matches the fast-paced craziness of the franchise, making this entry one of the most notable.
First, let’s address the action as exciting and over-the-top as ever. The first car chase sequence is a mad dash across the streets of Rome to prevent a giant, spherical bomb from blowing up the Vatican. If you were hoping to see Vin Diesel pull some superhero stunt like lifting a car on its side with his bare hands, you’re in luck. If you were hoping to see mid-air rescues of improbable physics as with past films, you’d get giddy at the film’s explosive climax. There’s also no shortage of fistfights, especially brutal duels between Michelle Rodriguez and Charlize Theron. For a film franchise that was last seen launching its street racers into space, this film gets closer to the simpler thrills of watching Dom play pinball with a giant bomb. That’s the FF saga I’ve come to know and love.
In what has become a silly trademark of the films, family is essential, and this entry stresses that more than ever. It’s not just about Dom protecting his kid (although he does) or working alongside his reunited brother Jakob (John Cena), which he does as well. This time the villain is completely driven to disgrace Dom and his crew, directly targeting everybody’s family. There’s more to preserve and more to lose than ever for the bald dude who once raced cars and now has to prevent the world from blowing up.
The past few villains of the Fast movies have always remained relatively tongue-in-cheek with their par-for-the-course plans for chaos. This is not the case with Dante, as Mamoa is equal parts hilarious and vicious, a perfect blend of the film series' best tones, making for a villain that fans never knew they wanted before. Everything from exploding cars to kidnapping kids is a real treat for Dante, who styles his hair, paints his nails, and holds one-sided conversations with his henchmen like the kookiest psychopaths.
The rest of the characters present (and a lot in this expanding ensemble) shine brighter here, with a beefier running time and plenty to do in the many arcs. Tyrese Gibson (Tej) and Ludacris (Roman) are still the perfect comedic duo for their bickering and love amid hacking, driving, money, and insults. They’re also well-balanced by Nathalie Emmanuel (Ramsey) and Sung Kang (Han), who mostly sit back and let them fight. John Cena plays the cool dad when he takes care of Dom’s kid and showcases his fun arsenal of mixtapes and armed cars. I’ve already boasted about my love for the fights between Michelle Rodriguez (Letty) and Charlize Theron (Cipher), but some love is deserved for Sung Kang and his rival Shaw played by Jason Statham. Even the new additions of Alan Ritchson and Brie Larson also get their moments to shine as members of the mysterious Agency.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you want out of films with car chases, terrorists, and a massive cast, but Fast X is easily my favorite. It’s one of the more comfortable films that find a great way to bring together this crowded franchise into an intense and explosively entertaining cliffhanger of a picture. Compared to F8 and F9, F10 delivers on the fun, especially for Mamoa’s performance which should delight even the most jaded of viewers for this on-going series of films.