THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS 9/ F 9/F9: THE FAST SAGA

2021, 143 minutes, Colour.

Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Charlize Theron, John Cena, Finn Cole, Sung Kang, Anna Sawai, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell, Lucas Black, Michael Rooker, Shea Whigham, Jason Statham.

Directed by Justin Lin.

‘I never even knew you had a brother’. This quote suddenly came to mind (surprisingly, since it comes from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest) during the prologue of this ninth edition of the Fast and Furious franchise. Hollywood has been delighting in origin stories so, unexpectedly, the film opens in 1989 revealing Dom Toretto’s father and his younger brother, Jacob. Some dubious goings-on, some regrets, clashing brothers which will be taken up (with a vengeance or more) during this almost 2 ½ hours of action, speeding cars, chases, crashes and smashes, explosions – one might say a hyperbole of mayhem.

And, while in the vein of metaphors, an extravaganza of implausibility! Even when two characters literally go into space. And, while we can welcome the great variety of international cities we visit, Cologne, Tokyo, London, Edinburgh, Tiblisi, often quite scenic if we distract ourselves from the car chases, the implausibilities that characters can move from one city to another seemingly just thinking about it!

It is all familiar territory and, probably, most fans will be pleased (although there always seem to be trolls ready to text that they hate inferior sequels). Characters from the previous films suddenly turn up, Charlize Theron in a glass case, Helen Mirren bejewelled and begownned and driving a speeding car (and, we suppose, that if it’s all good enough for Helen Mirren, then it’s good enough for us!). But, which films did they appear in? And what about Kurt Russell turning up as Mr Nobody? And all the Japanese connections, Tokyo Drift?

For those who do not retain all the details of the previous films, it would be very handy if there someone like a contestant on Hard Quiz whose expert subject was the Fast Franchise sitting beside us instantly reminding us who was who and where was where and when was when!

Vin Diesel gives his usual performance. Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster get a bit more action time. There is the comic patter between Tyree’s Gibson and Ludicrous – which we may (or not) find funny.

And, then there is the whole espionage story, power and space, which does seem a little far-fetched.

But, for those who are wanting the familiar characters, the cars, speed, chases, crashes, personal rivalries and confrontations, who can complain?

1. The ninth contribution to the franchise? 20 years, fans over the decades? The characters, cars and issues, broadening the scope of the series, International, gangsters, espionage, space? Gathered together in this one film? And the range of characters and references?
2. Audience familiarity with the characters? Dom is the centre of the series? Past history with Brian and Brian’s son? Letty, marriage to Don? Mia, Don’s sister? Ted Jan Roman and their comedy? Revisiting with her, Queenie, Mr Nobody? The connections with Tokyo?
3. Introducing Dom’s brother, 1989, their father, the race, in debt, fixing the race, not telling Dom, Jakob complicit? The father’s death? Dom blaming Jacob, prison, his emerging, after the decades, involved in international plans, domination, space?
4. The domestic sequence, Norma and Letty with Brian at home? And the end of the film, as with others, everybody gathered for the meal?
5. Ted Jan Roman, involving Dom, the issue with Jacob, with Cipher?
6. The episode in Mexico, the chases, crashes, Jacob and his presence, the two brothers confronting each other?
7. The further episodes, Tom being further involved, Letty following, mere and her presence? The visit to Tokyo, connecting with old friends, the emergence of the young woman, her DNA, the code for the machine and power?
8. The visit to Cologne, Sean and his friends, experimenting with rockets, the explosion? Later relying on them for the rockets and the spacecraft?
9. The visit to London, the encounter with Queenie, the social, upper-class, her driving, making connections?
10. Jacob, the international connections, the ambitious young son resenting his father, finance, socials, international intrigue?
11. Tblisi, everybody present, the plans, Cipher out of the glass? Control?
12. Don, the team, pursuits? The chases? The betrayal of Jacob? Dom and his rescue? They’re working together?
13. Issues of space, the satellite, the implausibility of Tension and Roman going into space, the comedy and patter, success?
14. The defeat of the enemy? Possibilities for world peace? Family reconciliation? And the final meal scene?