#VicksFlicks Special Edition: F9: The Fast Saga

Check out Brandon's review of F9: The Fast Saga on the latest #VicksFlicks Special Edition.

Share This Post

F9: THE FAST SAGA

2.5 out of 5 stars

For a very long time now, the Fast and the Furious franchise is quintessential “what you see is what you get” at the movies. We’re 20 years in, so there’s no getting off this ride now. Fans know what they want and Vin Diesel and crew have been giving it to them, going out of their way to one-up whatever they did previously. And so the tradition continues with F9: The Fast Saga, though it’s getting appreciably less fun and more dumb. Remember when Fast and the Furious was about cool cars and stealing DVD players? Those were such simpler times.

Any and every one who has ever been in these movies is back for what is basically the origin story of Dom Toretto (Diesel). His life is an open book in this one, flipping back to his past when he loses his father and his relationship with his little brother Jakob (John Cena) disintegrates within the engine fumes. So there’s no brotherly love once they cross paths once more when Jakob (now a beefed-up super spy) wants to get his hands on a gadget that can ruin the world. Dom’s so-called quiet life with his son is officially over. Round up Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Ludacris), Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) , and, back from the dead, Han (Sung Kang)! Like us viewers, they know the drill by now.

It’s hard to believe writer-director Justin Lin came cruising in to the F&F franchise with Tokyo Drift. My how far he has come. The rejuvenation of this saga is in part because of him, but the F9 plot and its action is eye-rolling and straight up laughable at times. To its credit, there’s nothing these guys won’t try and do, and we all love them for it. Still, super magnets, a rocket car sent to space, and Charlize Theron in a box?! Welcome to F9: WTF.

From the beginning, it’s been family this and family that, which is truly the nuts and bolts of these installments. Thankfully, that hasn’t been forgotten but is now firmly in the backseat with big, loud, and implausible behind the wheel. There’s no better time like the present for those involved to pull this thing over and check under the hood. For what has mostly been exhilarating, exuberant, and entertaining through the years, F9: The Fast Saga loses speed on all three.

Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get updates and learn from the best

More To Explore