THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS

US, 2017, 139 minutes, Colour.
Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, Luke Evans, Tyrese Gibson, Chris ‘Ludicris’ Bridges, Kurt Russell, Nathalie Emanuel, Elsa Pataky, Scott Eastwood, Helen Mirren.
Directed by F. Gary Gray.

So, this is what world taste looks and sounds like! As it hurtles towards bringing in $1 billion in box office returns, this is what millions of people want to see in 2017.

In fact, this is the eighth film in the series of Fast and Furious action movies that began in 2001. And, of course, there is every reason that there will be a ninth.

One of the curious aspects of the series is that, except for one film, the star is someone who does not really exude charismatic screen presence, Vin Diesel. The charismatic one, Paul Walker, was killed in a car accident in 2013 but the subsequent films invoke his memory, as does this one, especially in its final scene and the naming of a baby, Brian, after him.

In the beginning, this was a series about cars, fast cars, drag races, American settings, overtones of the law with touches of lawlessness, and aspects of the drug world. Since then, the action has become international. In fact, this one opens in Cuba, a kind of Havana that Fidel Castro may never have dreamt of (or had, perhaps, thought that he had overthrown). Dom and Letty (Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez) are honeymooning in Havana when the screenplay offers the opportunity for a huge drag race (after plenty of ogling of the young women in the capital), a big opening because Dom is driving something of a jalopy with a fierce engine inserted and actually finishes the race driving in reverse!

It is this quality, rather than his personality, that is attractive to the villain of the film, a blonde dreadlocked, Cipher, Charlize Theron who threatens him (the audience does not quite know why only that he looks at a photo) and he has to betray his friends and work for her.

With the introduction of Cipher, as well as Mr Nobody of the CIA (Kurt Russell) and his assistant, Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) and tracking down Hobbs at his daughter’s football match (Dwayne Johnson) and setting up action sequences in Berlin, the streets of New York City, and, eventually, snowclad northern Russia, the whole thing moves somewhat into James Bond territory. The rest of the crew get the call, Tej, Romano and Ramsay.

One of the complications is that Hobbs finishes up in prison but his escape is organised, along with his nemesis from the previous film, Jason Statham. And, by the end of the film, Jason Statham’s brother from the previous film, Luke Evans. And for good measure – very good measure – but only briefly who should turn up with as the brothers mum, Helen Mirren!

The New York chase with all its complications is an engaging set piece. But then, in Russia, there is a huge submarine, an explosive with a deadly time setting, Cipher in her plane, the whole gang on all kinds of vehicles driving through snow, submerging in the ice, the submarine ploughing through ice and snow – and the goodies achieving world peace! Also, of course, finally with the help of Dom.

Many will enjoy the scenes with Jason Statham and his goo-gooing with the baby!

(And, temptation not resisted, is it the Fury of the Fatuous!)

1. The popularity of the series? Box office? Cars, stunts, characters over the years, new angles?

2. The title, whose fate? Dom and his crew, Cipher, the Consequences? The missions, different fates?

3. The plausibility of the plot? Getting the group back together, their lives, the CIA investigations, Cipher in herself and her power? Dom and the baby? Action in Berlin, New York City, in Russia? The villains? Heroics? Nuclear weapons and peace? The James Bond -like adventure?

4. The locations, Havana, the city, cars, the drag race? New York City, offices, the elaborate chase, shooting? Cipher and her headquarters, controls? The plane? Iceland standing in for Russia, the ice and snow? The musical score?

5. Dom and Letty, the complicated past? Memories of Brian? The honeymoon in Havana, the cousin, the threats, the drag race, the power in the old car, the gas, Dom driving in reverse? The crowds, the touch of ogling? Not Fidel Castro’s Cuba?

6. Cipher, Charlize Theron, her appearance, the blonde dreadlocks? Meeting Dom, contriving the meeting, knowing all about him, wanting to use him? Showing him the photo, her hold over him, the later revelation of child, the mother and Dom’s relationship with her, her explanation about her pregnancy? The issue of the baby’s name? Cipher, her threats, killing the mother?

7. Hobbs, past career, football coaching, his daughter, the Polynesian ritual, the fear of the little girls, the crowd of mothers to see him? The official, the job, Hobbs urging him to barrack for the team? Going back to work, the interview with Mr Nobody, his assistant, Little Nobody? The danger of the mission?

8. The trip to Berlin, Hobbs, Little Nobody, the quest, the EMP, split-second escape, Dom appearing, running Hobbs off the road?

9. The prison break, action, Hobbs, Shaw and the hostility in prison, rivalry, push-ups, the escape and help?

10. Mr Nobody, assembling the group, the team, Letty, Romano, Tej, Nathalie? Their particular skills, working with each other? God’s Eye, the tracking of where Dom was?

11. The New York chase, the wrecking ball, elaborate driving and stunts, Shaw and Smith shot?

12. Cipher, using Dom, her control, the henchman, the henchman seeing the moment between Letty and Dom? Letty continually saying it was not the real Don? Shaw, the injury, the fake shot, Dom going to see his mother? Her attitude? And the later discussion with Shaw, demanding that he use his brother in the mission for her sake?

13. Cipher and Ramsey, the clash of skills, the surveillance, the tracking, Russia and the submarine? Each trying to outdo the other?

14. Ramon and Tej, the rivalry, the comic relief, skills, driving, the cars, the destruction of the cars, Russia the ice, Tej, and his contribution to closing down the missiles?

15. Russia, the plan, the nuclear devices, the submarine, Cipher deciding to move the submarine, the IT play, Dom defying Cipher? The fights, the driving, bombs, the torpedoes, the heat tracking – and the death-defying stunts? The risks, the explosions, everybody safe?

16. On the plane, Shaw and his brother, taking over, killing the crew, rescuing the baby, Shaw and his comic relief and goo goo scenes with the baby? Saved, parachuting?

17. Defusing the bomb, Little Nobody just in time, Tej?

18. Happy reunion, everybody together, Letty and the baby, calling the baby Brian?

19. Cipher living and ready to fight another day?