IR Film Review: FAST X [Universal]
The propellant of a "Fast" movie has increased in structure but unraveled in many ways in story. It has becomes at times, vignettes of its past mythology slowing down just once in a while for patriarch Vin Diesel to wax about family. However the bombast, despite a lack of reality, still can play for fun demolition. And in "Fast X", the adding of the scene-chewing Jason Momoa as Dante does add a bit of pizzazz. After heading to space (like "Moonraker") in the last film, it is hard to bring a franchise like this back to the ground, although the approach seems to reflect more in certain past triumphs but also the consequence of said actions. Dante as a character is affected by the past times before him but especially Rio De Janiero which changes the approach of the team. Paul Walker and his legacy play into these opening parts which does play into a texture of nostalgia but not enough to prop up the story.
The motivation of Dante is warranted but is way out of proportion which is part of the point. Momoa revels in this and knows to play it big. It seems like everyone knows this but Vin Diesel though this is his MO with this character. He is the gravitas per se, the rock ironically enough. The issue is that when these scenes come they are so overdramatized that it loses its grip on the audience. The team, after a Rome mission brings them together, splinters off to side stories (which might be a better way to manage the actors). Michelle Rodriguez gets a bit more of a side hustle and the team-up that happens speaks well of what could be which is a completely different movie. The gearhead aspect to it has now become completely a side note as well to play to a James Bond rogue wanna-be scenario. It draws some interesting plays (many Oscar winners in fact) because these movies have become light fun. However to think them anything more than that is a mistake.
Momoa makes some interesting choices (no doubt goosed on by new director Louis Letterier who came in last second when multi-previous helmer Justin Lin -- who retains some screenplay credit --- dropped out over "creative differences" days before the shoot). The movie of course is slimshod in this way but it still moves. Momoa's charismatic villain is both aloof and vicious. One scene in a backyard seems way out of left field, meant to show his psychotic tendencies but doesn't quite seem to gel. Besides his performance, which seems at many times separated in location (like he did many of his pieces in Atlanta when other flew to the actual location), the most entertaining (and heartfelt pieces -- comedically as well) are those of John Cena which is what makes his arc in this one work.
And also shows what he can do in the right scenario. Sometimes "Peacemaker" went too far while some of his family friendly films (remember the one with him as a firefighter?) go too saccarine. Since this is part of a multi film progression to the end, it does end in a cliffhanger on so many different points. This is part of the point but this one went significantly over its budget so it will be interesting to see what this one makes back and how it affects the end result. In a way (in a weird irony), it feels a bit like "Terminator: Dark Fate" so it will be see how it resolves itself. B
By Tim Wassberg
