by Frank Kemp, Contributing Writer
Fast and Furious 9, the 10th film in the franchise, is finally here after over a yearlong delay. Was it worth the wait? I’ll let you know after I cover some simple points. (Only spoilers ahead are those given away in trailers.)
After a recent binge of all previous Fast films for an upcoming episode of the SiftPop Writers’ Room podcast (releasing June 30), I have to admit, my brain has sort of become numb to the overall absurdity of the series. Earlier films in the franchise gradually do this slow burn of a buildup to get us to the point where these movies can just do whatever they want. Sure, the series can easily be written off as “loud and dumb,” but you know what? Who says loud and dumb is a bad thing? After 15 months of the world being shut down, maybe it’s just nice to have a movie doing all the travel for you with some nice action set pieces.
I could probably go on and on with my thoughts on the series, and I have, trust me. In F9 we learn that Dom’s estranged brother is now working alongside Cipher causing Dom-Aid and the gang to go after him and stop whatever Avengers-level threat they are building to in this movie. For nine films, we have been beaten over the head that nothing is more important to Dom than family. Except for the brother we never knew about. This is where the movie gets a little rocky for me. Not in the fact that the brother came out of nowhere, but rather that the movie divides its time up with a long series of flashbacks dedicated to the sole purpose of making us buy into why the brother has never been talked about or involved. This is the series where there have always been occasional flashbacks, but never to the extent that this one does and honestly, those scenes dragged for me the most. F9 should have condensed it all to a 15 minute prologue before jumping to the modern day timeline.
Speaking of timeline, you all should know about Han dying in Tokyo Drift, but the series decided to bring him back before killing him once again at the end of Fast & Furious 6, causing Tokyo Drift to essentially be in place of F&F6 now. That’s 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 3, 7, 8, H&S, 9 for those paying attention. Once again, Han is back and in my head, and I want to say I am over the fact that this series is constantly killing off characters and bringing them back. So much so that I’m always half expecting Brian to somehow show up in the series again.
This leads into my biggest issue with this film, and now the series: stop giving excuses on why Brian isn’t there. We all know why and I know you want to honor your fallen star, and I get it. The problem is that when you do, it brings the movie to an awkward stop. Every time. So please, Fast Saga, stop doing it. I beg of you.
Okay now back to you, the reader. Even with the faults, my brain wants me to knock on the movie for having, I still had a fun time with it. Hobbs and Shaw started something that this film continued: self-parodying. That is what they have resorted to and once again I’m just like, “Yeah do it.” After what this film pulls off, I cannot fathom what they have planned for what is supposedly the final two entries in the Fast Saga.
The bottom line: if the Fast Franchise is something you’ve enjoyed for a couple movies, then you should like this one. For John Q public and non-fans of the series, F9 will not be the film to change anyone’s opinion. They know it and the fans know it. Let them have this. That is why I am giving this film two review grades. I’m not sure if any review has done this before, but let us admit, I am Frank and I’m not happy unless I’m doing something my own way.
Grade if you’re a Fast Saga fan already: B-
Grade if you’re NOT a Fast Saga fan: D+
In summation — you already know if this movie is or isn’t for you. Just pass the popcorn.
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