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Film Review
Tinashe Kusema
“NEWS” on Jason Momoa’s screen-stealing performance in “Fast X” is true.
And the movie’s controversial ending means we are not yet done with Momoa’s Dante Reyes character.
Rumours are that “Fast X”, which was originally slated to be the final instalment of the franchise, has now been turned into a three-part movie deal.
The second instalment, yet to be titled, is due for release in 2025, with a Dwayne Johnson spin-off expected to be sandwiched between the two movies.
In what is arguably one of Hollywood’s worst-kept secrets, Gal Gadot’s Gisele Yashar character makes her official return to the franchise.
For those not in the know, Gisele was presumably killed off during the climactic standoff in “Fast and Furious 6”, sacrificing her life to save her boyfriend Han Lue (Sung Kang) by jumping off the wing of a plane as she shot a bad guy.
Lue is no stranger to returning from the dead. He is one of the three key characters to be supposedly killed off, only to return in later instalments.
But I digress.
“The Fast and the Furious” movies are among the most divisive franchises in Hollywood, and quite frankly, I really do not get it.
The action and stunts can be somewhat too much at times, and it appears the franchise has outlived its relevance, but as long as fans continue to queue to watch these movies and the studios make a boatload of money, then let it be.
It is within your rights to hate the movies, but it is advisable to keep your opinions to yourself.
Given that we are likely going to get two more instalments, “Fast X” is mostly about putting the pieces on the chess board.
We are introduced to Dante Reyes, the son of the Brazilian drug lord, Hernan Reyes, who re-emerges, seeking revenge against Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew for the death of his father and loss of his family’s fortune in “Fast Five” (2011).
Rather than just kill them, the younger Reyes wants to make Toretto suffer by seeing each one of the people he loves die.
It is quite an ingenious plan, as Reyes sets about turning both the public and police enforcement against Dom and his crew.
The great storyline is made even better through Momoa’s absolutely brilliant performance as Reyes.
Momoa describes his characters as “very sadistic and androgynous . . . He’s got a lot of issues. He is definitely got some daddy issues,” he says.
The studio reportedly gave the 43-year-old actor a lot of creative freedom in crafting his character.
This is probably why Reyes is arguably one of the best villains of the entire franchise.
Momoa does his best as Lobo, another character the actor is touted to portray in the rebranded DC Universe.
Diesel, as he has done throughout the franchise, grunts and whispers his lines throughout the movie, while the rest of the cast seamlessly get back into their old characters.
The list includes Tyrese Gibson (Roman Pearce), Michelle Rodriguez (Letty Ortiz), Chris “Ludacris” Bridges (Tej Parker), Nathalie Emmanuel (Ramsey) and Jordana Brewster (Mia Toretto). A special shout-out to the duo of Charlie Theron, who shines again as Cipher; and John Cena, who does his best playing the character of Jakob Toretto.
However, aspects like dialogue, performances and character development have never been the franchise’s biggest merit.
Over the years, stunts and action have proven to be the franchise’s biggest strengths, and “Fast X” delivers on both fronts.
The trailer has been effective in hyping some of the movie’s biggest pops and stunts.
If you thought taking down a tank, plane and submarine was the ceiling for the franchise, then nothing can prepare you for a man driving a car down a dam wall while trying to avoid raging flames.
With “Fast X” now done and dusted, all that is left is to wait for the 2025 instalment.
How they handle the return of Gisele (Gadot) will be pivotal to the film’s success.
As a minor gripe, it is high time they fix the Paul Walker problem.
I understood their refusal to kill off the later actor’s Brian O’Conner character but at some point, an explanation for his continued absence is needed.
Either kill off the character or recast him.
Online Reporter