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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
The main Fast and Furious films make a comeback with its ninth film after four years. Titled F9, Justin Lin (Community, Warrior) returns as the director, with Daniel Casey as the screenplay’s co-writer. Additionally, Alfredo Botello helps Lin and Casey assemble the project’s story.
I will not get into specific in this review, as big a film as it is. There will be minimal spoilers present, as the title of this article suggests. Regardless, please beware!
Plot Summary
According to the Fast Saga website, here is the official synopsis of the film.
No matter how fast you are, no one outruns their past.
… Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over their peaceful horizon. This time, that threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he’s going to save those he loves most. His crew joins together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom’s forsake brother, Jakob …
Character Roster & Description
Vin Diesel stars as the protagonist, Dominic “Dom” Toretto, with Vinnie Bennett portraying a younger version of the character. John Cena plays his long-lost brother and the film’s primary antagonist, Jakob Toretto, Meanwhile, Finn Cole portraying a younger version of the character.
Michelle Rodriguez plays Dom’s love interest, Letty Ortiz, while Jordana Brewster plays Dom and Jakob’s sister, Mia. Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, and Nathalie Emmanuel star as the respective teammates, Roman Pearce, Tej Parker, and Ramsey.
The series brings back past characters, Han Lue — played by Sung Kang — and villain Cipher — played by Charlize Theron. Lucas Black, Bow Wow, Jason Tobin return from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift as Sean Boswell, Twinkie, and Earl Hu. The film introduces Anna Sawai as Elle, Han’s adoptive daughter. Thue Ersted Rasmussen stars as Otto, Jakob Toretto’s wealthy partner-in-crime.
In smaller roles, Helen Mirren and Kurt Russell return as Magdalene “Queenie” Shaw and Mr. Nobody, respectively. J.D. Pardo plays Jack Toretto, the father of Dom, Jakob, and Mia. Michael Rooker plays Buddy, a family friend of the Torettos and the crew member of Jacks. Cardi B makes an appearance as Leysa, a woman whom Dom knows. Don Omar and Shea Whigham make cameo appearances as their respective characters, Santos and Agent Stasiak.
Discussion
Fast and Furious 9 spirals its narrative into more twists and turns with just around seventeen already-established characters and thirteen new ones. Botello, Casey, and Lin seem to struggle with balancing the film’s few subplots with its overarching story. The plot divides its large good-guy team into smaller groups, and still, it’s almost difficult to focus on one scene at a time. To add, the film’s villains try to navigate their roles in the narrative, and the plot even features a subplot of the Torettos via flashbacks.
The expansion and extrapolation of the family theme make the plot a little predictable to its end. Although, what Botello, Casey, and Lin do that’s new is introducing characters’ consciousness of the story via meta-narrative. Some question why they haven’t been written off through death (or at least wounded via battle scars). If only Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reprised his role, it would make a little more sense. (His character Luke Hobbs had read up on philosophy by Friedrich Nietzsche in the series’ previous installment, Hobbs & Shaw.)
However, F9‘s inclusion of the characters’ sense of immortality felt randomly thrown in due to his exclusion from the film and its story. Suffice to say, at least they’ve finally addressed what fans and critics alike have said about the franchise over the past decade.
The structuring and the style of the plot may be troubling when Stephen F. Windon’s cinematography, as well as Greg D’Auria, Dylan Highsmith, and Kelly Matsumoto’s editing come into the matter. Brian Tyler’s choices as the film’s music composer are not so bad.
Characters
Most — if not all — of these characters face traumas of the past one way or another. At this point in the saga, it’s pretty much needed, especially with the events they’ve endured. Simultaneously, they confront and address the god complexes that come along with having lived through so much violence around them. It even comes to a point where they are likened to the vehicles they operate, which I found to be odd. Additionally, some characters that were written off of the franchise as send-offs are somehow written back in. I guess this is alright, but the execution could be better.
Diesel’s character development is tested well in this film, especially being the eighth Fast and Furious entry in which he appears. (He does unlock some memories in one scene, which happens by entering the metaphysical plane.) On the other hand, the actor’s performance tends to be outmatched here and there by Bennett, who plays younger Dom. Cena does well as the main antagonist, who had enough room to develop.
I would like to think Tej, Roman, and Ramsey develop well in this film, with their actors delivering bright performances. The way they’re written into the story can get funny, but then again, those are the roles they serve in the franchise. (Also, we still don’t know what Ramsey’s surname is.) I would love to see more screentime from Kang and Sawai, along with stronger development from the Asian characters they play.
The writers do attempt to pass the Bechdel Test through Brewster and Rodriguez’s characters. I don’t think Mia and Letty ever interacted much in the previous installments. Although their time together is brief, I like the dynamic they have here.
Final Thoughts
Altogether, Fast and Furious 9‘s cinematic elements result in an overwhelming and convoluted course for the path ahead. Like The Fate of the Furious, it reuses and recycles the series’ overall narrative format through a prolonging of the continuity. From here, I would say that it brings in a seemingly unnecessary and somewhat irrelevant conflict into the fray, resolving it by the end. The film has a runtime of two hours and ten minutes. This is around the same amount as the series’ past five installments since Fast Five. Even then, I found it to be just a cluster of what was able to fit in. I would rather that its scenes be more properly organized because what we see doesn’t particularly work for this movie.
This current film includes quotes that could be perceived as peculiar but might age better as time passes. My favorite one, however, comes from Ludacris’s character. He says, “If we’re gonna go out, let’s go out on top of the world.” If you are coming into this film with the intention of scrutinizing it like I am, then this may not be your cup of tea. Otherwise, you are in for could be a good ride.
F9 is now in theaters!
Have you seen this film? If you have already, what are your thoughts on it? Let us know! For more action and blockbuster-related news and reviews, follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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