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How could F9 possibly shock and awe audiences after all that’s already gone down over the past 20 years? They do it by turning hard into familiar Fast & Furious terrain of macho melodrama and full-throttle plot twists, then taking the car stunts to absolutely outrageous new heights. In his latest, returning director Justin Lin brings plenty of his signature character moments and skill for captivatingly capturing complicated stunt sequences, making for a sequel that is both outlandish and big-hearted.
Vin Diesel returns as Dom Toretto, who is living off the grid with his ride-or-die partner-in-crime, Letty (a steely Michelle Rodriquez). That is until a cryptic message pulls the crew back together for another save-the-world mission. They team up with Roman (a comedic Tyrese Gibson), Tej (a smirking Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges), Ramsey (a sprightly Nathalie Emmanuel) and Mia (Jordana Brewster), then go up against their scowling new foe, Jakob (John Cena). Their rivalry leads to brutal one-liners, high-tension flashbacks, untold collateral damage, and countless unspoken civilian casualties.
The screenplay by Lin and Daniel Casey weaves in repeated plot twists and familiar faces. More secret family members are unearthed and another beloved crew member is–thankfully–brought back from the dead. Sung Kang reprises the role of Han, bringing a cool charisma, sexy smile, and gunslinger swagger that shows he’s ready for a spinoff of his own. (Perhaps one on Han’s lost years?) Also returning is Charlize Theron as the nefarious hacker Cipher, plus a slew of crowd-pleasing cameos from the extended Fast & Furious family. However, the biggest thrills come from the absolutely bonkers action sequences. (Though the laws of physics are name dropped, they need not apply here!)
Though the laws of physics are name dropped, they need not apply here!
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How do you make a car chase that one-ups everything Fast & Furious fans have seen before? Lin and his team turn to new spins on the series’ best ideas: An opening jungle chase throws us back into the wild world of the Toretto clan, offering edge-of-your seat excitement and nail-bitingly close calls. Then, we see a callback to the incredible bank heist of Fast Five, where a massive vault became a devastating towed flail. This time, powerful magnets pull and push cars—and plenty else—through bustling streets and buildings, while our heroes barrel toward a climax that takes them to a whole new frontier and spectacular level of suspension of disbelief.
As these movies have grown from LA street races to car vs submarine showdowns, its characters have essentially evolved into superheroes. F9 addresses this with a funny bit in which a rattled Roman argues they may be literally invincible. How else could they not only live through all the adventures they’ve been through, but also do so “without a scratch?” In every frame, Dom’s crew looks like they could be posing for character posters or perfume ads: gorgeous, cool, and stoic, no matter what impossible scenario they’ve just been hurled through. Lin leans into the unflappable fantasy, and it makes the melodrama elements all the more exhilarating.
Diesel and Cena prove a perfectly matched pair, and their moments together sizzle.
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Without revealing spoilers, let’s just say there’s serious beef between these characters. Diesel and Cena prove a perfectly matched pair, and their moments together sizzle. Cena’s movie career has been marked with comedy, but this former pro wrestler knows how to deliver a fierce frown and furrowed brow for masterful intimidation. Crafty low lighting causes his strong features to cast sharp shadows, making him look all the more fearsome. Meanwhile, Diesel's jutting jaw and hard stare has their faceoffs sparking with macho wrath. They are earnest yet repressed in a way that makes such scenes deliciously campy, and Lin knows it. There’s a sly glee throughout F9, from the ludicrous stunts, to the convoluted soap opera plot, to a spirited one-liner about a villain’s great dental plan. Lin knows that Fast & Furious movies are mad fun not just because of the action, but because of how unapologetically outlandish they get at every turn—all while staying straight-faced.
Beyond the wild fun within, F9 also boasts phenomenal cinematography. Director of photography Stephen F. Windon previously worked with Lin on three Fast & Furious films, so it’s little wonder that his coverage of the complicated action sequences is strategic and striking. Even when cutting between multiple locations, a horde of characters, and a parade of different vehicles, the geography and action is always in focus and clearly cut. (Props to editors Greg D'Auria, Dylan Highsmith, and Kelly Matsumoto.)
The Dumbest Moments From the Fast & Furious Movies
However, more stunning are the quiet moments, breaths between action and exposition, in which Windon starkly tells a story with framing. For instance, when Jakob first blazes onto the scene, he does so in a car that looks similar to Dom’s, down to the racing stripes across its hood. An aerial shot shows the vehicles in a perfect circle of tire marks, diametrically opposed foes. With one sharp image, Windon illustrates their connection and their distance. Then, bounding from London to Tokyo to Cologne and beyond, Windon gives us breathtaking landscapes, both urban and wild. He makes the most of each, turning every location into a character as glossy and gorgeous as our flawless heroes. This film isn’t just fast and furious, it’s also breathtakingly beautiful.
Verdict
Justin Lin knows exactly what makes a great Fast & Furious movie. He’s directed several. For the latest, he re-teamed with cast and crew to allow this fantastic film series do what it does best. He delivers bold plot twists, grit-teethed gravitas, and out-of-this-world action to create the kind of cinematic spectacle that demands to be seen on the biggest screen with the loudest sound system possible. F9 proudly pitches audiences into the shotgun seat on one more absolutely wild ride packed with thrills, laughs, and—in the end—a heartwarming message about family. Plus, we finally got justice for Han. Those who’ve never reveled in the logic-free fun of this franchise may well eye-roll at its unapologetic excesses. Fair enough, these are movies that refuse to take themselves all that seriously. But what more could fans of this high-octane entertainment ask for?
