Fast X (2023)
Even if you accept that the whole shebang has become borderline ridiculous, Fast X is probably the most enjoyable Fast and Furious sequel since Fast Five.
There’s a couple of reasons why I think Vince Diesel’s passion project still matters, even though it has long since evolved from it’s humble fast car races origins into the rowdiest international blockbuster franchise around.
First, Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, Now You See Me) is an underrated but very good action director, who jumped at the chance to make Fast X when Fast and Furious-mainstay Justin Lin dropped out because of creative differences.
Leterrier makes the action scenes go down smoothly, and boy there are a lot of them. The best one takes place in Rome and involves a rolling bomb, but I won’t spoil anything else.
Secondly, this franchise entry boasts a delicious bad guy in the form of Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa. As Dante Reyes - the son of drug lord Herman Reyes from Fast Five - he is not only truly larger than life, it also seems he wants to manifest himself as the auteur of all of Dom Toretto’s suffering.
This direct nod to James Bond’s Spectre makes perfect sense, as I have the feeling this is Louis Leterrier’s version of a James Bond movie. Or his audition to be the next Bond-director.
Fast X trots all over the globe, with spectacular sequences in a variety of exotic locales, while Dom’s whole Fast and Furious-family gets separated and/or lands in grave and mortal danger.
The wacky plot at times hardly makes sense, but it doesn’t really matter amidst the dazzling thrill of it all.
The whole idea of another two Fast-movies (instead of just one as previously announced) to wrap things up suddenly makes a lot more sense.
This is basically the Fast-series Infinity War, and Marvel followed that with not one but two Avengers Endgame-movies.
Before I get to my conclusion, I must point out that if you don’t care about the Fast-saga, this movie won’t change your mind, like, at all.
But for those who do, it’s a pleasant surprise. Fast X is Fast, Fun & Furious.