Fast X

 

Fast X marks the beginning of a two-part finale for the iconic Fast and Furious franchise, centered around Dom Toretto and his loyal family. This time, they find themselves in the crosshairs of the vengeful son of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes, a character introduced in Fast Five.

The plot bore a number of similarities to Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. While this film managed to incorporate some elements of intrigue and suspense, with unexpected twists and character reveals, it did little to distinguish itself from other action franchises, falling into familiar territory. Additionally, this franchise's fondness for increasingly unrealistic action sequences has reached new height to the point that it has become comical.

These films have never really been known for good acting or script writing so it’s always a surprise to me when a well-established and respected actors like Brie Larson join this clown show. And as expected, Brie’s character, Tess, unfortunately fell victim to a lackluster role and a subpar script. Her performance felt forced, partially due to a lack of character development, which failed to fully utilize her abilities and left her character incongruous in the overall narrative.

I was disappointed with Jason Momoa's casting as Dante Reyes, despite being a huge fan of his. Specifically, the decision to portray Dante as some sort of homage to Health Ledger’s Joker while also packing on a more flamboyant and campy personality tapped into an offensive practice known as queer coding. This approach involves attributing stereotypical LGBTQ+ traits to villainous characters. Not only did it feel out of place, but the ethnicity of the character was also a mismatch for Momoa, who is of Hawaiian and White heritage, playing a character of Latino descent. My thoughts were, if they wanted Momoa so bad, they should have changed his character to fit his ethnicity but instead they lazily plugged him into a role that he shouldn't have been in. This also me thinking about one other missed opportunity to cast an actor who more accurately reflecting the character's background in Vin Diesel's portrayal of Dom. Another character who is supposed to be of Latino descent, which does not align with Diesel's own ethnicity.

Despite its shortcomings, Fast X successfully maintains certain core elements that have always made the franchise enjoyable. The race scenes, a trademark of the series, are still entertaining and well-executed. Additionally, the film continues the tradition of presenting strong, capable women who can hold their own alongside their male counterparts. This representation is always appreciated and contributes to the overall appeal of the movie.

Overall, Fast X sets the stage for an action-packed conclusion to the franchise but falls short in terms of fresh storytelling and fully utilizing the talents of its cast. It's a film that is for the fans, catering to the spectacle of increasingly outrageous action sequences that require a suspension of disbelief. As a longtime fan, I'm still committed to the series, but no longer think it's necessity to experience these films in theaters. Instead, I think they can be enjoyed from the comfort of home, where one can appreciate and pass judgment on their over-the-top nature.