THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS: SAVING THE WORLD

The Fast and Furious franchise is not one that people saw coming. The initial tale of street racers running afoul of the law has morphed over the years to become an action series where those same street level thieves are now the hottest super team saving the world from destruction. And while some (my mother included) would use the phrase "you expect me to believe that?" while watching the film, it really doesn't matter. The movies aren't about realism, they're about escapism. Fueled by fast cars, numerous explosions, incredible hand to hand combat and bad guys galore at their center they are all about family. Such is the case with this latest chapter.

The film opens in Cuba where Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are vacationing. Of course the movie opens with a high octane (sorry I had to go there) street race between Dom and a local street racer ending with Dom earning the man's respect with a win. Out getting coffee the next day Dom is hijacked by a woman known as Cipher (Charlize Theron) with a secret she uses to force him to work for her.

When the team is called out on a new mission, where should they get caught they will be disavowed, recovering a stolen EMP device in Berlin. Things go according to plan (with plenty of car chases and damage) but then Dom runs team leader Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) off the road, leaving him to be caught and taking the EMP.

Hobbs is sent to prison where Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) and his protg nicknamed by the group Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) offer him a chance to work for them if he signs a confession. He refuses and enters the prison, unaware that this is the same location where Deckard (Jason Statham), the villain of the last film is imprisoned. The pair threaten each other constantly when they suddenly find a prison break presented to them. The duo fight their way separately through the throng but exit at the same time into the waiting hands of Mr. Nobody.

Now, along with the team, they must work together to find Dom and discover what happened, why he changed sides. As they do so their base of operations is breached by Cipher and Dom and the God's Eye, the top secret computer program that allows them to view any and all around the world, is taken. Left bruised both physically and emotionally the team goes back to trying to locate them using old school techniques.

It pays off in the end and the next target they find Cipher stealing is nuclear codes held by a Russian diplomat in New York. The team sets out to make sure it doesn't happen and of course more car chases and action ensues. All of this takes place on the crowded streets of Manhattan and the thrills are on display with plenty of edge of your seat moments. But the codes are stolen and the team almost captures Dom but he escapes. He has a moment where he could take Letty out but lets her live.

This leads to a moment that will cement Dom's future plans for Cipher. The secret she has over him involves family, something that she constantly belittles him for and tries to break down with each assignment she gives him. What she doesn't realize is just how important that is to him, how it reaches down into his core being. It is a startling moment in the series but must happen to get to the next level. And it is family that will pursue Cipher and attempt to rescue Dom with the fate of the world now at play.

Come on, these movies aren't about Shakespearean drama, these are popcorn movies. They're meant to entertain and thrill us like a roller coaster ride. And the fact remains that this franchise is one that consistently does just that, outdoing the previous film each and every time.

That being said the actors involved consistently provide their best offerings. They don't treat it like this is a comic book world of unbelievable stunts, they make their characters seem real and their concerns seem genuine. That's not an easy task when surrounded by 150 mph cars and giant wrecking balls while tracking down rogue nukes. And yet they accomplish it each and every film.

Rumors abound that various cast members are unhappy with others, that some are jealous of the roles increased/decreased in the series. That's sad to hear. Perhaps they could take a note of the concept that strikes at the heart of this film, that of family. They've become family to the fans of the series who continue to make this one of the most financially successful film franchises out there. Perhaps they need to set aside the self-importance they seem to feel about themselves and realize that the series helped to make them bigger stars than they were when it started, that the fans long to see them carry on and that in so doing they continue to make enormous amounts of money. When that happens we'll see them once again in the next chapter of the series.


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