Rating:
7 out of 10, As the expression “jumping the shark” ages we’re probably going to
have to come up with a new phrase to express when a movie or TV series runs out
of gas and just goes too far. F9 might serve as a target rich environment for
that effort. I mean, sending street car racers into space! Then there is
repeated issue of no one ever being permanently dead. This is the problem when
you’re expected to up your game each time from previous movies. The Fast and
Furious series has always delivered awesome car chases and incredible,
increasingly unbelievable car stunts. This latest is no exception and when they
focus on the action it’s great. Unfortunately, they decided to take themselves
more seriously than called for. We don’t need to see them emote, especially in
the case of John Cena, who proves incapable of doing that. There was too much
time creating additional mythology for the Dominic Toretto clan which meant we
had to endure repeated scenes of Vin Diesel staring off into the mists of his
past. Knock it off and get back behind the wheel. The only ones who seemed to
not mail this in were Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris who were too funny and
engaging. This isn’t high art, it’s a Fast and Furious movie, which Diesel and
whoever edited this, seems to have forgotten the edge that made this series of
movies so successful. All this being said, the action scenes are worth sitting
through the cringe worthy attempts to emote.
MVP:
The huge electro-magnets – too cool
