Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: James Wan, United International Pictures, M, 137 Minutes.
This is the seventh instalment of the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise and is by far the most exciting and thrilling in the series, which also includes a moving tribute to Paul Walker who died in an accident during production.
The dynamic Vin Diesel returns as Dominic Toretto as do his ‘family of friends’, reprising their roles in this fast-action, high-speed, roller coaster ride that is being helmed for the first time by Australian director James Wan (‘Aquaman’).
Re-joining Dominic for the ride is close buddy Brian (Paul Walker), love-interest Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), friends Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges) as well as CIA agents Elena (Elsa Pataky) and Hobbs (Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson).
In their latest venture Toretto is tasked by a CIA boss (Kurt Russell – ‘The Hateful Eight’) to rescue young high-tech hacker Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel – Maze Runner’) after she developed a computer device known as the ‘god’s eye’.
But this is only part of the plot as shown in the closing credits of ‘Fast and Furious 6’, in which the difficult Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham – Safe) threatens Toretto with vengeance for killing his brother.
Again, it is the highly entertaining action scenes spearheading the storyline as Toretto and company swing into action in their attempt to rescue Ramsey by driving parachuted cars off a plane and landing exactly in their designated places.
Besides kidnapping Ramsey and stealing the ‘god’s eye’, Jakande (Djimon Houssou – ‘Seventh Son’) a mercenary and leader of the insurgents, also joins Shaw to eliminate Toretto and his friends.
This is followed by Shaw getting rid of Toretto’s friend Han (Sung Kang) in Tokyo and hospitalising Hobbs prior to taking on Toretto in an enthralling fight to the end.
Considering this is his first major movie, Wan has excelled in most facets of the production by maintaining his clear-cut direction despite driving the storyline to the upper limits of plausibility.
In addition to the entertaining fight scenes involving Diesel, Johnson, Statham and Walker there are some gripping high-speed car thrills, and Diesel’s delightful sense of humour including his usual quip about not having friends just family.
Though the action is certainly fast and furious it is Wan’s fitting tribute to Walker in the concluding scenes that will particularly please the many fans of the franchise.
Fast and Furious 7 is screening on Channel 9 at 8.30pm on Saturday 8 May.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
