F9: The Fast Saga is an American action film directed by Justin Lin, who returns following a seven-year break from the franchise – 20 years after the original – feel old yet? Fast 9 is the sequel to The Fate of the Furious (2017) and the tenth full-length film in the franchise. As you would expect, Fast 9 is a bonkers and over-the-top rollercoaster ride in which very little actual acting takes place.
Fast 9 is a mammoth action movie in which the villains smirk, nod and wink at you for the whole two and a half hours. For those familiar with the franchise, cyber-terrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) is still at large, and hunting for a mysterious satellite device that could “reboot the world order.” Thue Ersted Rasmussen plays generic evil son-of-a-dictator and co-conspirator who reminds the audience that “Spoilt, rich pricks run the world!”
The film begins in 1989, when Jack Toretto participates in a race, with his sons Dominic and Jakob (Finn Cole – Peaky Blinders) in his pit crew. Following an argument with a rival racer, Toretto Senior’s car is spun out of the race, crashes into a wall and explodes. Potential foul play sets the scene for the bitter brotherly rivalry in Fast 9 between Dominic (Vin Diesel) and Jakob (John Cena).
It’s big, it’s stupid and the stunts are more ridiculous than ever. The script is formulaic – but it has worked eight times before so why change a winning formula. Locations include London, Tokyo, Edinburgh, and in one of the most Ludacris scenes in the franchise so far, a rocket-fueled adventure in a Pontiac Fiero, into outer space, featuring Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (Chris Bridges).
Earlier in the film, Tej presumably ironically claims: “As long as we obey the laws of physics, we’ll be fine.” I’m not sure this is a concept that the franchise obeys. Later, he’s in a Pontiac Fiero in outer space, and cars are getting thrown all over the road thanks to incredibly powerful magnets. I’ve seen these scenes described as Tenet for toddlers – it’s incredibly apt.
It has an unnecessarily convoluted plot and an inkeepingly terrible cameo from Helen Mirren. Despite its many flaws, it is a perfect take-your-brain-out film, with a few genuinely funny moments.
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