The new film “F9: The Fast Saga” will please fans of this franchise as it continues to build on the storyline of the characters while delivering first-rate driving scenes. The twists include a family secret revealed, a character who returns from the dead, and the involvement of an old nemesis.

It is significant that this movie describes itself as a “saga,” because it long ago became more than just a series of drag racing pictures. The franchise descended into soap opera territory in “Fast and Furious 6” when it used the classic genre trope of having a dead character, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), discovered alive but with amnesia. This opened up a whole new world of possibilities which are admirably mined in the latest installment.

The first revelation is that Dom (Vince Diesel) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) have a long-estranged brother, Jakob. In flashbacks, we see Dom and Jakob working in the pit crew for their racecar driver father at the track. After a pit stop, their Dad is subsequently killed when his vehicle malfunctions. These flashbacks continue throughout the picture and give more detail as to why Dom told Jakob to get lost and never return.

In the present, we see Dom and Letty living with Dom’s son by the late Elena (Elsa Pataky) in a remote farm somewhere. They unexpectedly are visited by their old buddies Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel). A garbled transmission has been received from Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) whose plane has been taken down in the Central American nation of Montecito.

Dom states that he no longer wants to be involved but Letty agrees to go help Mr. Nobody. Soon we discover that Dom has reconsidered and the group head out to Montecito. Mr. Nobody has been protecting one half of a doomsday device named Project Aries, which was split so that it could never be used. When uploaded to a satellite, Project Aries would infect every computer system in the world, and give its owner complete control. In Montecito, the team discovers the damaged aircraft and retrieves the half of the Aries device.

Suddenly government troops and a lone driver attack them and the chase is on. Guess who the driver is—Jakob! Jakob gets the device and leaves.

Jakob has teamed up with Otto (Thue Ersted Rasmussen), the wealthy son of a diplomat. They retrieved Cipher (Charlize Theron), last episode’s villain, from the plane and are keeping her locked up and using her expertise as needed. Jakob and Otto are heading to Edinburgh to retrieve the last half of Project Aries.

More machinations follow. Another character thought dead is discovered to be alive. The unique key to Project Aries, required for activation, is revealed. A scene involving rockets attached to a car sets the stage for a later venture into space. All of this culminates in a supreme car chase scene in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Perhaps the funniest scene in the movie involves Roman, when the team in is in the safe house (but which ironically is later breached by Jakob’s group) under the Caspian Sea. He comments to Tej and Ramsey about the fact that they should be dead by now considering all of the many dangerously elaborate predicaments they have gotten into over the course of the many films. He concludes that they must be invincible.

This open admission of the absurdity of their survival admits the truth that these films are over-the-top. You have to completely suspend disbelief and not question that this ragtag group of family and friends have to save the world over and over again.

The soap opera aspects of the series also strain credulity. Two characters have died and been resurrected, one with amnesia. A long-lost brother is revealed.

Yet nothing takes away from the fact that these films are incredibly entertaining. The stunts in F9 are spectacular. There is a scene with a flimsy bridge that is breath-taking. The use of the electromagnets adds a whole new level to the car chases. The scene in orbit is both comedic and exciting. Whether or not the laws of physics apply is open to question.

The characters are appealing precisely because of the soap-opera aspects of the extended group. The core value at the heart of the franchise is that family comes first. However corny this sounds, it makes the Toretto family and their associates relatable. The fact that this film once again concludes with a family gathering (including a car coming into the driveway supposedly driven by Brian, the late Paul Walker) is the capstone to this central idea.

While Helen Mirren makes a token appearance, the acting is not particularly noteworthy. But then the whole point of the acting is subservient to the greater plot and story.
John Cena is adequate as Jakob, the new kid on the block. Why Jakob decides to take over the entire world with Project Aries or is even in a position to do so is never adequately explained. But as previously stated, it doesn’t need to be since the plot requires some kind of over-the-top archenemy.

The pacing is top-notch as the film jumps around the globe like the best spy pictures. The editing and cinematography are superbly executed.

Director Justin Lin excels at this type of movie. Here he is the co-screenwriter as well. The storyline has enough twists and turns to keep the viewer engaged.

By the time the fifth installment of the saga had occurred, I was hooked on these characters. Can you go to F9 not having seen any other of the films and still enjoy it? I would give that a conditional yes. You won’t understand the significance of the family story in the overall arc but you can follow the Project Aries storyline and have a good time. You will certainly see some of the best stunt work and visual effects in cinema.

Four out of five stars

Editor’s note: Agreed. The Fast Saga shifted away from underground racing heists and became science fiction adventures with Fast Five. Summer believes this whole-heartedly!

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 forsaken brother, Jakob.

Cast: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, with Helen Mirren, with Kurt Russell, and Charlize Theron

Directed by: Justin Lin
Based on Characters Created By: Gary Scott Thompson
Story by: Justin Lin & Alfredo Botello and Daniel Casey
Screenplay by: Daniel Casey & Justin Lin

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