Review: Fast X : Cine Observer

Film: Fast X
Director: Louis Leterrier
Cast: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson,
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jason Momoa, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, John Cena, Jason Statham, Sung Kang, Alan Ritchson, Daniela Melchior, Scott Eastwood, with Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Rita Moreno & Brie Larson (Oscar winner)
Based on the characters created by Gary Scott Thompson
Music: Brian Tyler
Cinematography: Stephen F. Windon
Rating: 3.5 stars

Director Louis Leterrier’s Fast X, which happens to be the 10th instalment of the immensely famous franchise, ‘The Fast & The Furious’, doesn’t disappoint one bit and rises to meet and even exceed the humungous expectations that were riding on it.

The film is in fact so good that it can be called the best of the entire lot.

For the benefit of those who don’t know about the franchise, ‘The Fast and The Furious’ franchise started with the film, ‘The Fast & the Furious’ in 2001. Its phenomenal success resulted in sequel after sequel being made. This film happens to be the 10th instalment and is a sequel to ‘F9’ which released in 2021.

Shot at locations in London, Rome, Turin, Lisbon and Los Angeles, Fast X is the eighth most expensive film ever made.

It has been 20 years since the series started and it is still going strong! Following this breathtaking action thriller, two more films are in the pipeline! While the 11th instalment is expected to be out in 2025, work is underway for the 12th instalment which is believed to be the final film of the franchise!

Enough about the franchise. Now, let’s get on with the review of Fast X, which is undoubtedly the best of the best.

Synopsis: Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his extended family are at peace, having outsmarted almost all their enemies.

Dominic’s world revolves around his wife, Letty ( Michelle Rodriguez) and their young eight-year-old son (Leo Abelo Perry), in whose company he forgets himself.

The ace driver is now experiencing the joys of fatherhood, happily training and passing on his knowledge to his son.

Everything seems to be going on fine when suddenly, trouble surfaces in the form of Dante (Jason Momoa of Aquaman fame!), the epitome of evil.

Dante, the son of drug lord Hernan Reyes from whom Dominic Torretto and his team stole in the fifth instalment of the franchise, is back for revenge.

And for Dante, revenge does not mean death because his dad has taught him that death is the easy way out. Dante believes he shouldn’t do his enemies a favour by just simply killing them and that he should make them suffer!

So, he is looking to inflict as much pain as possible on Torretto. What hurts a man the most? A man doesn’t mind getting hurt himself. It is hurting his family that hurts him the most. Dante knows this and therefore targets Torretto’s son. But what Dante does not know is that he must never invite the wrath of a protecting father…

This instalment of The Fast and The Furious franchise also has loads of explosive action. And like all other editions, this one too has some mind-blowing driving sequences. But then, this instalment is special because it has a more meaningful story.

What is also interesting about this instalment is that it stresses on the significance of a family and drives vehemently home the point that family is everything.

While most other Hollywood films, influenced heavily by feminism and woke culture, try to put down the institution of family, Fast X does exactly the opposite and tries to underline two significant facts concerning the family system.

The film shines the light on how men attach great significance to raising and protecting their families. It also shows how selfless men are when it comes to putting the needs of their spouses and children.

The film also shows that men, who withstand great harm to themselves, will not tolerate even small harm being inflicted on those that they love.

Vin Diesel, as always, is awesome even in this film. Tough, calm even in the face of threats by even the most mean of thugs and strong and skillful enough to protect all whom he loves, Vin Diesel as Toretto is just majestic.

Michelle Rodriguez as his wife Letty comes up with yet another impressive performance. However, she does look old in this instalment.

But it is Jason Momoa as Dante who steals the show. To play a character that is ruthless and is seeking revenge, Jason combines charm with anger and hatred in equal measure. What you get as a result is Dante. Fantastic work!

In all, Fast X is just fascinating and definitely worth a watch.