Fast And Furious 8 Movie Review: Fate Of The Furious

Nothing can hit the brakes on the Fast and Furious franchise. “Fate of the Furious” is a big, scene smashing, adrenaline filled, logic-jacking, and action packed movie that broke the box office.

“Fate of the Furious” is the eighth installment in the “Fast and Furious” franchise and the first one released since Paul Walker’s passing. The eighth installment is a solid addition to the franchise, paving way for new storylines as a new trilogy is in development. Unlike its predecessors, the “Fate of the Furious” is a far cry from a movie being about loveable carjacking criminals. It emphasizes more on its spectacular action sequences and extravagant stunts.

Furious 7 left off with the characters bidding farewell to Paul Walker’s character Brian O’Conner. Furious 7’s touching sends off to both the actor and his character may seem like an end of a franchise. Instead, it paved way for a new era in the franchise with a more James Bond-style of globetrotting action.

Fate of the Furious: More than A Car Chase Sequence

We were first introduced to the Fast and Furious franchise with a plot about street car racers Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) finding themselves being prime suspects of a big-rig hijacking. That heavily relied on exciting car chases.

Directed by  F. Gary Gray, known for the Italian Job and Straight Outta Compton, was able to transition the franchise into a global thermonuclear cyber thriller. He was able to put the same elements what made the Fast and Furious franchise loved at the same time adding in a James Bond-style supervillain at its helm.

The plot focuses on Dom and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) finding some semblance of a normal life. Until they face an unexpected challenge when a mysterious woman named Cipher (Charlize Theron) forces Dom to betray his team. At the same time stop Cipher from unleashing chaos.

The movie starts off and ends with a blockbuster beat, from crashes to explosions. Fight scenes and more exploding scene-stealing car chase sequences. These sequences defy reason and gravity, including a submarine-car chase in the latter half of the film.

Fast 8 Character Driven Performances

We are treated to see Diesel tackle on a different side of his character by portraying Evil Dom in his story arch where he was manipulated by Cipher. Another standout performance in “Fate of the Furious” is Jason Statham’s, Deckard Shaw.

He not only brought his action star persona but also his natural wit and charm to his character. He was either in action sequences or exchanging insults with Dwayne The Rock Johnson’s Luke Hobbs.

Charlize Theron brought the malevolent and ice-cold Cipher, the villain of the story, to life. Her one-on-one scenes with Diesel were the tensest and suspenseful moments in “Fate of the Furious”. Even her henchman played by Kristofer Hivju, plays the role just as menacing if not slightly offbeat as Theron’s Cipher.

Fate of the Furious Delivers On A Strong Note

“Fate of the Furious” delivers the eighth installment with enjoyable character interactions and astonishing action sequences. Picking up pieces that were left from the previous movies and tying up loose ends.

The stage has been set for the next two chapter in the Fast and Furious saga.