Get your popcorn ready! We have another Fast and Furious movie on our hands; the biggest franchise that just keeps giving; sometimes taking, but mostly giving. Full of adrenaline and heart pumping action, it’s a franchise that started off with an illegal car racing theme, but quickly turned it’s back on that and evolved into a series of films that was more about catching drug mules with fast cars. F8, as we will call it for short, is no different to the last few in the series, but that’s without mentioning its big differences. Unlike the last few that have been cringe worthy and ridiculous to say the least, we now have somewhat of a decent film. It does still have plenty of cringe worthy moments and ridiculous exploits, but it was a step up from what we have endured so far.
This time, while in Cuba, Dom (Vin Diesel) is approached by Cipher (Charlize Theron), a cyber terrorist who shows him a video that isn’t shown to the audience. We can tell by the look on his face that it’s bad, but we never find out what is on it. Whatever Dom sees does not interlink with the fact that the reason he has to turn against his ‘family’, and help Cipher find all the pieces she needs for world domination, is because she is threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, Elena (Elsa Pataky) and the son he never knew he had. This is a technical flaw that would bother me for most of the film. Because we can’t really connect the video with the bombshell that she has his son, it seems as though Dom never turns against his family for any other reason, but for the good persuasion skills by our villain. Why is a man who lives by his own rules so easily manipulated by a stranger? The new threatening duo that is Cipher and Dom use explosions to muscle their way into the ‘famialia’s’ headquarters, and steal God’s Eye (if you remember from the last movie is the creation by Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel)). I am sure we are still not clear on the kidnapped son factor when this happens. It bothered me a lot because as I walked out of the cinema I began to question, did Dom know or didn’t he know about his son before he forced Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) off the road to take the piece of technology Cipher first seduces him to take for her, which was the same item the team itself stole from a German military base for Mr Nobody (Kurt Russell)? I still don’t know. Anyway, besides the fact that the timeline for me is a little sketchy, all you need to know is Dom goes against his family because he has a son and Cipher is threatening to kill him if Dom doesn’t help her with her plan. She says to him, his family will “go against an enemy they can’t handle – you.”
The team is back, respectfully without Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) who we find out later are not allowed to know or be involved with the idea that Dom has gone rogue. The new addition comes in Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) who plays Mr Nobody’s rookie recruit. Necessary? Not really. The family grows even bigger with some past nemeses added to help the cause. This was hard to swallow. Owen (Luke Evans) found Letty (Michelle Rodriquez) and used her for his mischief in the sixth film. He is supposedly killed by Dom and the group. Deckard (Jason Statham) had everything to do with the death of Han (Sung Kang) which was revenge for the death of Deckard’s brother Owen, that led the group to seek revenge in the seventh film. (Spoiler to come) Now, both brothers and even their mother Magdalene played by the always awesome Helen Mirren, and Letty with her team are joining forces to bring down the bad guys. It’s hard to comprehend how enemies can so easily get along and become part of the ‘family’, but it happens.
It’s actually Statham that gives one of the most entertaining acts. Again, still a little confused by the timeline, Magdalene is the one who convinces her son’s to help Dom get his son back, after Dom secretly visits her right under Cipher’s nose. Deckard’s mission to save the son of Dom happens, we assume, without the knowledge of the rest of the family, while they try to take over Cipher’s plot to steal a submarine under the icy waters of a Russian military base. Statham does this with grace as he brings down an entire plane of people while cradling Dom’s son in a capsule. It’s funny, it flows elegantly, and it just proves how smooth Statham can be with a gun in one hand, and in this case, a baby in the other. It needs to be seen to be believed.
There’s always a good fight scene that is choreographed exceptionally with music in these movies. We are robbed of round two of a Hobbs vs Deckard fight, but the prison riot where every man is for himself is sensational to watch. Bodies are being picked up and thrown sideways into other bodies, and arms are being stretched out making bodies flip around them upon impact. It’s intense and every bit entertaining.
As for cars, it’s become evident that the Fast and Furious movies are definitely not about cars anymore, but about catching bad guys with fast cars. The first scene in the movie is very stereotypical of the franchise; Latino music, hot girls wearing barely anything that leaves nothing to the imagination and an old fashion car race. It’s very rare we see racing happening in these movies anymore. A few hotted up cars are added here and there to make it look likes its sticking to its roots, but it’s not. I feel scenes where the crew get to choose from a wide range of cars is only included to make sure the viewers know that it’s still a car movie. Most action films show case luxurious cars and car chases. This isn’t any different to a Bond movie or any other movie you can think of that uses a car to attempt to bring down the enemy. I believe it’s time these films started honouring Paul Walker more by making them about what he envisioned them to be. However, with that said, forget that it’s even a Fast and Furious movie. The new title comes with a refreshing change and the past can easily be forgotten because finally one of these movies can stand alone.
How did they top the whole parachuting cars out of a plane stunt? Well, they haven’t really stretched far from the ridiculous manoeuvres they’re known for. This time, we had hundreds of cars being hacked into and driving themselves through NYC like a zombie apocalypse. It was frightening. It’s also here where we think these movies are taking a leaf out of the superhero franchises by adding a super villain mask on Dom.
The second ridiculous big action scene comes with a big submarine under the ice. This section is more like the never-ending runway from the sixth film. But, this time we know it’s ten miles because we are told so. Which means, they can go on crashing into each other, shooting at each other and fighting one another for as long as they want because ten miles should be just enough length to bring down a few baddies. I guess they learned from the sixth film’s error. It’s also here Hobbs steers away a torpedo with his bare hands. It’s this sort of stuff I wish the series will stop doing come nine and ten. They are not superhuman. They are still human and if we put together all the crazy stuff they have done, they should all be dead a hundred times over by now.
It took seven movies (let’s not include the first) but we finally have a proper villain for these films that is worth mentioning. Cipher is one of the better villains they’ve had. She is intelligent and powerful and not planning on taking over with drugs. She’s not trying to take over just a little city either. She plans world domination instead; heights the prior enemies didn’t even foresee within their future. She is an actual threat worth attempting to bring down and it’s uplifting to see. Theron is very good at playing a villain. It is here and the Huntsman movies where she proves these skills.
I like that F8 has a new title because this film can stand apart from its ancestors. If you can try really hard and not associate it with the past movies, The Fate of the Furious is a force to reckon with while still implementing as much of its past without it being too similar.
F8 is a great action film that keeps giving and it actually has a bit of substance. Okay, it still consists of unbelievable, ridiculous stunts, but it’s not as bad as the last few. It steers away, but not too far, from those eye rolling moments, corny family talk and insane feats that are just not realistic. I should mention though, if you’ve noticed how many times I’ve said ‘family’ in this review, then this is a few short of the amount of times the word is mentioned in the film. Take it as a warning.
Fate of the Furious is a good popcorn movie and even better on the big screen. Easily 3 out of 5.
