Fast X (2023) – Movie Review and Summary (with Spoilers)
“Fast X” is so entertainingly bad that it might be considered good.
| Director(s) | Louis Leterrier |
| Screenplay By | Dan Mazeau Justin Lin Gary Scott Thompson |
| Based On | The Fast and the Furious Characters |
| Date Released (In Theaters) | May 19, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Duration | 2 hrs, 21 minutes |
| Content Rating | PG-13 |
| Noted Cast | |
| Dominic Toretto | Vin Diesel |
| Letty | Michelle Rodriguez |
| Roman | Tyrese Gibson |
| Tej | Chris “Ludacris” Bridges |
| Ramsey | Nathalie Emmanuel |
| Han | Sung Kang |
| Jakob | John Cena |
| Tess | Brie Larson |
| Little Brian | Leo Abelo Perry |
| Dante | Jason Momoa |
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Film Summary
How did the “Fast and Furious” Saga get here? How did the story of neighborhood street racers become a bombastic action tale about a growing ensemble of family members with seemingly superhero strength? They went to space in the last movie. OUTER SPACE. It’s tickling and baffling all at once, and that’s part of the appeal of the “Fast and Furious” Saga. Like any franchise, there are traditions within each movie: fast cars, pretty women, meatball men grunting through dialogue, big fights—and it all ends with a barbecue, beer, and a lecture about family. It’s loud, sentimental, and sincere. You can see the international appeal with an ethnically diverse cast, a growing list of movie stars, and more outrageous stunts. You might also roll your eyes.
So how is “Fast X?” If you’re like me, you may have skipped a few and are unsure about who’s dead or alive and who the heck all these people are (I’m looking at you, Helen Mirren). Rest assured, none of our questions matter. The less you understand, the better. “Fast and Furious” doesn’t care. “Fast and Furious” will change whatever it wants based on whatever the movie plot needs. Because of this…
“Fast X” is so bad it might be good. The movie has been marketed as the first part of the supposed end to the series, and the movie is packed with people, explosions, and such an incoherent plot that it risks imploding on itself. What makes it so horrible is also what makes it so entertaining.
“Fast X” starts with a flashback to “Fast Five,” arguably the most fun entry of the franchise before the plot and action went completely off the rails. The flashback shows that the villain and drug lord Hernan Reyes had a son, Dante, whom we’re just learning about. Dante (played by Jason Momoa) is meant to take over the family drug business, but after his father is killed, he’s out for cold vengeance against Dominic Toretto and the rest of his family.
Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) now has a 10-year-old son, Brian (named after the character Brian O’Conner), whom Dom is already teaching to drive. The two bond with the rest of the family—Lety, Roman, Tej, Ramsey, and Han—at a family cookout hosted by Dom’s grandma. This is the first and last time we see the classic gang all together, and it is the last time all these characters are at peace.
Roman leads a mission, with Tej, Ramsey, and Han helping him in Rome. But late at night, Dom and Lety are visited by an old enemy, cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron). Cipher is bruised-up and bloody, and she warns Dom that a larger enemy is coming for revenge against him. Dante sabotaged Cipher’s group and is now using all her resources against them. Don’t ask how Dante could pull this off or where he got his money, manpower, or weapons. Doesn’t matter!
Once Dom and Lety learn their family is in danger, they realize their friends are trapped and go to Rome to rescue them. Roman and the gang also realize they’re being set up when the truck they’re meant to hijack carries a gigantic bomb ball. In a massive action sequence that is reminiscent of playing with a pinball machine, the bomb ball rolls out onto the streets of Rome, with Dom and the gang trying to stop it. While the ball doesn’t reach its destination, it detonates and destroys a huge portion of Rome. Villain Dante is able to frame Dom and his family as the culprits, and they’re all split up into their different journeys for the rest of the film.
This movie is bananas. It has 20 stars, all with superhero strength, all acting like they’re in different movies with at least five genres.
Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej, Ramsey, and Han have the least to do as they’re on the run in their own spy movie. Lety (Michelle Rodriguez) is caught and imprisoned with Cipher in a prison breakout plotline. Dom’s son Brian and new family member/Dom’s brother/Brian’s uncle Jakob (played by a charming John Cena) are on their own family comedy road-trip adventure. The main antagonist, Dante, acts like a jock version of the Joker and is clearly in a comedy separate from reality. And the star of the show who could do no wrong, Dominic Toretto, is on his own solo adventure venturing the streets of Rio de Janeiro with a story that’s basically him looking at old photos and videos that remind us of the greatest hits in “Fast and Furious’” past.
Everyone has a chance to kick butt, drive fast, and say a cringey line. Every character is now related to someone else. And when the movie doesn’t show someone getting punched or shot, it has a cameo from another emerging character (Brie Larson, Jason Statham, Rita Moreno, Pete Davidson, etc.). “Fast X” is as if a child got the chance to make a movie about his action figures. There are plenty of reunions and action sequences that take place all over the world, but what it all means is a headache to understand. By the end, we know there will be a Fast 11, and I am here for all the ridiculousness.
Things To Note
Why Is “Fast X” Rated PG-13
- Dialogue: Little profanity, but I can’t shake the fact that Momoa’s Dante calls Dominic a “butthole.”
- Violence: Non-stop action, destruction, gunshots, and explosions. Even a child gets the chance to shoot a canon.
- Sexual Content: Brief scenes of partying women shaking their butts. The standard Fast and Furious affair.
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- Where is Mr. Nobody? Who is Mr. Nobody? Why don’t any of his kids explain that?
- How are so many characters who seemingly died still alive?
- What does Dante actually want as a villain? Just vengeance on Dom? What will he do afterwards?
Collected Quote(s)
“Hey dorks, what are we blowing up?” Dante Reyes
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Dominic “Dom” Toretto
He is a former criminal and professional street racer who has retired and settled down with his wife, Letty Ortiz, and his son, Brian Marcos. In a tank top and behind the wheel of a car, Dom can achieve the most impossible feats.
Dante Reyes
The son of drug lord Hernan Reyes, seeking revenge against Dom and his crew for the death of his father and the loss of his family’s fortune during the events of “Fast Five.” Dante is flamboyant with a constant eye for whatever brings the most chaos.
Letty Ortiz
Dom’s wife and a former criminal and professional street racer. She previously suffered amnesia, was thought to be dead, and was even Dom’s enemy at one point.
Roman Pearce
An ex-habitual offender, expert street racer, and a member of Dom’s team. While Roman is often comedic relief, he also wishes to become a leader.
Jakob Toretto
The brother of Dom and Mia and a master thief, assassin, and high-performance driver who once worked as an agent for Mr. Nobody. Jakob is still learning to adapt to his new family and spend time with his nephew, Brian.
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Notable Performances or Moments
Jason Momoa as the antagonist, Dante Reyes, is a sight to behold. Momoa’s acting blurs the line between a “good” and “bad” performance, but it is notable. His giggles and eccentric outfits make it seem as if he’s in a different movie the entire time, and perhaps he is, as most of his scenes are green-screened and filmed separately from everyone else in the movie.
On The Fence
Filmmaking Style is a Constant Adrenaline Rush
The camera is constantly in motion. Shots rarely last more than 5 seconds before cutting away to something else. This is filmmaking for an audience with no attention span. It’s loud, special-effects-heavy, and Vin Diesel must have some contractual obligation to leave and enter every location in slow motion. “Fast X” develops its own visual language, but at two and a half hours, it’s a bit much. When you have a scene with Dom hugging his grandma from five different angles, you have an issue.
Characters are Invincible and in their Own Mini Movies
At some point, the “Fast and Furious” family all learned martial arts, how to use guns, and how to throw people through walls and floors. At some point, they learned to cheat death. An endearing quality of these movies is that no one dies. But the explanation behind their survival becomes more laughable, and since so many characters have survived explosions, no one’s life or drama ever feels at risk. In “Fast X,” the ensemble cast is mostly separated on their own adventures, but their stories are so different in tone that it provides whiplash each time we return to a different character.
The Movie Serves as a Tribute to Itself
“Fast X” enjoys reminding the audience about the greatest hits from previous movies. “Fast X” knows you probably don’t remember everything or everyone, so it includes flashbacks and a collage of photos of past events and characters with an explanation of who these people are. While helpful, it’s quite silly knowing a movie is spending a tremendous portion of its time saying, “Remember the other movies?”
How Does It End?
Fast X ends with an explosive cliffhanger – Literally – Dante Reyes has the upper hand on Dom and his family as he hits a plane carrying Roman, Tej, Han, and Nathalie with a bazooka. Meanwhile, Dom and his son are the bottom of a dam about to explode. Just as the bomb countdown reaches 1, the scene cuts away to Letty and Cipher escaping prison in Antarctica. Just as it looks like they’re out in the middle of nowhere with no help, a giant submarine appears from under the frozen ground (water??), and Gisele (a.k.a. Gal Gadot) shockingly returns from the dead to help them escape. Cut to credits.
Is There Sequel Potential?
A mid-credit scene reveals the villain Dante has his sights on one more person to make suffer for his father’s death: Luke Hobbes. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson appears in the signature role, so there will absolutely be a sequel.
