Don’t Turn Your Back on Fast X
The Fast Saga has come a long way since its first installment, The Fast and the Furious, released in 2001. That was a simpler time, when the protagonists, Dominic Toretto and his crew, were humble thieves whose heists consisted of stealing VCR and DVD players. Over the years, however, the series shed its original dynamic, evolving into a long-lasting franchise with characters blown up to superhuman status and every film more brazenly defying logic and the laws of physics. Fans seemed to have enjoyed this trend until recently, with the last two films, 2019’s Hobbs and Shaw and 2021’s F9, suffering from dismal reviews and a dip in box office revenue. However, with the release of Fast X in May, a flicker of hope emerges.
After experiencing F9, a terrible film that would have been forgettable if it weren’t for its outlandish plot, I vowed not to watch the tenth installment when it arrived. However, after being nagged by the constant memes and pop culture buzz that always come with blockbuster releases, I reluctantly compromised to see it when it came to streaming.
And I was pleasantly surprised.
While not the best film in the Fast series, (that title is more deserved by the likes of Furious 7), Fast X was certainly one of the most entertaining. The movie had plenty of high-quality action scenes, including well-choreographed fight sequences, epic car chases, and mind-blowing vehicle stunts. It managed to remain quite captivating whilst dialing back on the series’ staple unbelievability factor.
The film once again centers around Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and the allies that he has made throughout the franchise. This time though, his “family” is being threatened by its most formidable foe yet, Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa). Dante is the son of Fast 5’s antagonist Hernan Reyes, a corrupt Brazilian businessman who was killed and robbed of his entire $100 million fortune by Dom and the gang. Seeking revenge, Dante spends the next ten years studying Toretto, later re-emerging with ultra-high-tech resources and a cruel plan to take out everyone Dom knows and loves.
For the first time in the franchise, Fast X sees the protagonists split into smaller factions for the majority of the movie, a move which gave the film’s writers the opportunity to showcase the protagonists in various countries including Portugal, Brazil, England, Italy, Vatican City, as well as a few surprise locations.
While the returning cast was entertaining with each character taking on his or her usual persona, several newcomers also stole the show and delivered captivating performances to give Fast X a fresh feel. Jason Momoa does an excellent job as Dante, visibly embracing his role and adding lots of humor and intensity to the plot as well as providing a much-needed contrast to Vin Diesel’s weaker dialogue. Also new to the franchise is Captain Marvel star, Brie Larson, who in the film plays a rogue agent who looks out for the protagonists. While her screen time was short, she is a vital part of the movie and does a great job. The final addition to the supporting cast was Alan Ritchson, known for his leading role in the action series, Reacher. In Fast X Ritchson plays Aimes, the new head of the covert organization, The Agency, serving as a second-string antagonist behind Momoa's character. Ritchson put his imposing physique and intimidating persona to use to create what in my opinion will be the franchise’s most memorable villains.
Summer 2023 saw the release of several hit action films. Some movie goers have chosen, like I almost did, to prioritize seeing other films such as Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning or Indiana Jones: The Dial of Destiny. However, I assure audiences that a fun, entertaining, and quality film can be found in Fast X, a high-octane joy ride that’s well worth a watch.
