Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his ‘family’ face a new threat from their past in the form of Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa). 

Dante is the son of Hernan Reyes who the team dispatched all the way back in Fast Five and as is now almost expected in a Fast film there is a bit of a retcon to insert him into the action of the previous film and make him our villain. 

I have waxed lyrical in previous reviews of this franchise about how I am endlessly fascinated by its evolution and craziness. Recently the UK hosted the Eurovision Song Contest and I was aware of lots of people getting excited for it and prepping watch parties and the fascination escapes me entirely. For me the entire thing is a car wreck (pun intended). But it popped into my head as I was watching this movie that perhaps on some level I enjoy these films now in a similar perspective to those who enjoy Eurovision. You know exactly what you are going to get and you either have to join in with the insanity and enjoy it or sit on the sidelines and avoid it. 

So let’s go through a check list of what Fast X provides then… 

Fast Cliches; The film opens with a barbecue for the whole family and there is much Corona drinking. There are many references to family and our villain is actively trying to destroy Dom’s extended family. There is a street race that features many scantily clad women and numerous gear changes (remember, in the Fast and the Furious if you want to go faster there is always another gear). And of course we have a few retcons, the one I can safely discuss is of course the Reyes villain plastered throughout the trailers and posters. But rest assured the film has surprises up its sleeve. 

Returning faces in what is now a huge roster of characters; The main plot threads focus on Dom, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Cipher (Charlize Theron), Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Han (Sung Kang) and Jakob (John Cena). But it also finds time for Shaw (Jason Statham), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Queenie (Helen Mirren) and Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) in one off scenes or smaller cameos. 

But do not fear Fast fans, there must always be new characters; Rita Moreno appears as the matriarch of the family and gives a speech, Pete Davidson gets a little fun cameo, Brie Larson plays an Agency character with links to the teams past, Daniela Melchior plays a street racer with links to the teams past, Alan Ritchson plays another agency character and of course Jason Momoa is our new villain. Remember the Fast crew know everyone! 

Insane action scenes; now this is actually where I was a little disappointed with this film. The main action sequences that stuck with me were those in the trailer. Dom playing marble madness with a bomb in Rome and chicken with some trucks on a dam. The Rome scene which features early is by far and away the best fun whilst driving vertically down a dam is keeping in tradition of defying physics that the films have. 

Self awareness; I honestly believe that as the films have got crazier and crazier they have written in an element of self awareness to them as comedy moments. I also strongly believe Vin Diesel ignores this completely and is the straight man to this insanity. In this movie newcomer Alan Ritchson gets to give a brilliant speech that sums up the entire franchise craziness and I loved every second of it! 

So is it any good? Well that’s up to you. You probably already know if you are watching or avoiding this. But for me it is not making my top 3 Fast movies because whilst fun the action sequences were not quite as interesting as before. And I still think the franchise needs more Hobbs and Shaw. Although I really did love Momoa’s absurdly camp villain who loves a hair scrunchie and painted nails as much as an explosion. 

Stick around for a mid credits scene after that cliffhanger ending.