Director: Justin Lin
Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Charlize Theron, John Cena, Finn Cole, Sung Kang, Anna Sawai, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell, Lucas Black, Michael Rooker, Shea Whigham, Jason Statham
Distributor: Universal Pictures International
Runtime: 143 mins. Reviewed in Jun 2021
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Action violence

‘I never even knew you had a brother’. This quote suddenly came to mind (surprisingly, since it comes from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest) during the prologue of this ninth edition of the Fast and Furious franchise. Hollywood has been delighting in origin stories so, unexpectedly, the film opens in 1989 revealing Dom Toretto’s father and his younger brother, Jacob. Some dubious goings-on, some regrets, clashing brothers which will be taken up (with a vengeance or more) during this almost 2 ½ hours of action, speeding cars, chases, crashes and smashes, explosions – one might say a hyperbole of mayhem.

And, while in the vein of metaphors, an extravaganza of implausibility! Even when two characters literally go into space. And, while we can welcome the great variety of international cities we visit, Cologne, Tokyo, London, Edinburgh, Tbilisi, often quite scenic if we distract ourselves from the car chases, the implausibilities that characters can move from one city to another seemingly just thinking about it.

It is all familiar territory and probably most fans will be pleased (although there always seem to be trolls ready to text that they hate inferior sequels). Characters from the previous films suddenly turn up, Charlize Theron in a glass case, Helen Mirren bejewelled and begowned and driving a speeding car (and, we suppose, that if it’s all good enough for Helen Mirren, then it’s good enough for us). But, which films did they appear in? And what about Kurt Russell turning up as Mr Nobody? And all the Japanese connections, Tokyo Drift?

For those who do not retain all the details of the previous films, it would be very handy if there someone like a contestant on Hard Quiz whose expert subject was the Fast Franchise sitting beside us instantly reminding us who was who and where was where and when was when!

Vin Diesel gives his usual performance. Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster get a bit more action time. There is the comic patter between Tyree’s Gibson and Ludacris – which we may (or not) find funny.

And, then there is the whole espionage story, power and space, which does seem a little far-fetched.

But, for those who are wanting the familiar characters, the cars, speed, chases, crashes, personal rivalries and confrontations, who can complain?