“Were you expecting a street fight?” —Dom Toretto
Today’s quick review: The Fate of the Furious. When cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) gets leverage on Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Dom betrays his family and helps Cipher steal a laundry list of dangerous weapons. Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), and the rest of Dom’s crew must team up with their recent nemesis, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), to hunt down Cipher and save Dom.
The Fate of the Furious is an action thriler and the eighth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel returns as Dominic Toretto, a street racer turned reluctant hero, now pitted against his own team in a high-stakes test of skill. The Fate of the Furious is another solid entry in the series, bringing the usual assortment of big stars, spectacular stunts, and gorgeous cars.
The Fate of the Furious continues the series’ gradual shift towards the spy genre, featuring the return of friendly government spook Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell), a spy thriller plot, and cyber technology bordering on science fiction. The transition lets the series keep its thrills coming, meshing well with its over-the-top stunts and need for adrenaline.
As usual, The Fate of the Furious gets a lot from its ensemble cast. While the loss of Paul Walker is felt, Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson continue to impress, while the supporting cast of Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, and Tyrese Gibson have a practiced chemistry. Jason Statham’s extra screen time is put to great use, while newcomer Charlize Theron makes for a strong, if not outstanding, addition to the series.
Compared to the other movies in the series, The Fate of the Furious spends very little time on setup. Apart from the key question of Dom Toretto’s motivations, the movie lets momentum carry its characters into their latest adventure, diving straight into the action at the cost of some sense of grounding. Likewise, the exaggerated stunts and loose plot logic place the film firmly in the popcorn category rather than any sort of drama.
Watch The Fate of the Furious when you are looking for splashy action in its purest form. The Fate of the Furious continues to up the stakes in a franchise known for spectacle, and it does so with no significant dip in quality. Action fans should definitely check the series out, up to and including its eighth film, while those looking for something deeper should look elsewhere.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for high-quality action, a great cast, and plenty of fun.