A review of 'Fast and the Furious X'

Fast and Furious X, or simply Fast X for short, marks the tenth outing of the Toretto extended family, and the tenth time Vin Diesel plays lead Dominic Toretto. This puts him on par with Hugh Jackman and Chris Hemsworth, who have both played the characters of Wolverine and Thor nine times each, and placing him one spot behind the great Christopher Lee, who played Dracula a total of ten times on screen. These Fast and Furious movies are nothing if not consistent, and even after nine previous films of supercars, high-stakes missions and death-defying stunts, Dom and his crew can still deliver the goods. The over-the-top antics and exceptional high-speed choreography are on full display, and witty back and forth between characters brings some humor and keeps the movie from getting tiring. And at two and a half hours, fatigue can be a real issue. But the action sequences keep you glued to the screen, and honestly, you really don’t notice the time fly. The set pieces are bombastic and routinely ignore all rules of physics and probability (a point made light of in the previous film), but at the same time have a roller-coaster ride appeal for them where you really don’t mind, you’re just in it for the fun. Every character gets their moment in the spotlight, but no one steals the show as much as Jason Mamoa’s Dante. New to the series, Mamoa plays the villain in the film, and he obviously had a blast doing so. Preening like a peacock while brandishing a weapon, he commands attention whenever he shows up on screen. Often switching from menacing to comical, you can feel him channel his playful denizen of dreamland character from his other film, Slumberland, only more maniacal. Think, the Joker, but with more fashion sense. The theme of family is a fixture in the Fast and Furious films, and this is no different. Dom finds himself on the receiving end this time around, as an old vendetta brings Dante calling on Dom’s family in an attempt to even the score. His mission now is survival, and protecting his loved ones. The telling of this tale will keep you gripping your seats and wishing you had seatbelts on. Every familiar face that shows up in Fast X, will leave you gasping. Get ready to buckle for the best ride in the Fast and Furious franchise. Definitely, all roads lead to this.