Fast X movie review: The best movie in the franchise

The latest installment of the Fast and Furious franchise has arrived in Fast X. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY on this planet is more excited than me. Dom and the family are back, and I am ready to talk about it. Below I share my thoughts on the film and let you know if it is worth checking out.

Fast X follows Dante Reyes, the son of drug lord Herman Reyes comes after Dominic Toretto and the family to seek revenge for all the money that they stole in the heist in Rio. The film stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Tyrese Gibson and sees the addition of Brie Larson and Jason Momoa, who plays Dante Reyes.

When the film starts, we get a behind-the-scenes look at why Dante Reyes is hunting for Dominic Toretto and the family. Of course, it’s because of the death of his father and the burning of all the family money. Reyes was in and out of psych institutes, trying to find his way after losing his father. His attention is quickly turned towards Cipher, as he can use her technology to take everything needed to begin the family’s demise.

We move to Dom, who is teaching his son how to drive the car and feel how it moves when behind the wheel. It is followed by a family gathering with Dom’s mother (Rita Moreno) giving a speech. After the speech, Abuela talks with Dom in what I believe is one of the more emotional sequences in the film’s franchise that, includes a touching tribute to Brian (Paul Walker). It sets the tone of Dom’s only fear is losing his son, his wife, and his family.

As I walked into this film with the excitement of a kid going into a toy store, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was excited because no movie is better at being that film that makes you turn off the world and enjoy what’s in front of you more than these do. I wasn’t expecting the writers to return to their roots and give us one of the more layered films franchise. Everybody loves Dominic Toretto, but when he takes a slight step back and lets those around him shine, the movie is better for it.

What makes Fast X great is that it has a formidable villain that has nothing to lose. This franchise and many others struggle to have a significant opposition that makes the film’s stakes meaningful. However, Dante has no care in the world, as he is a carefree lost soul looking for revenge. If you put the Joker, Hannibal Lecter, sprinkle a little Wilson Fisk in a bottle, and shake it up, you get Dante.

Jason Momoa gives one of the best villainous performances in Fast X

If I had to pick a favorite movie genre, action is near the top of the list, and I’ve seen thousands of them. Jason Momoa gives one of the best villainous performances I’ve seen in any action movie. From his demeanor to his carefree attitude to the quick-`witted one-liners, Momoa demands the attention of those around him and us watching in the theater. I remember being excited about Momoa being the film’s villain when the casting was announced, but he exceeded my expectations.

As for the rest of the film, I loved it, and without going into full detail about specific things, each character gets its time to shine, which made it special. We have our moments with our favorite duo Tej and Roman, Letty gets to kick some ass, Jakob provides a fun addition, and the new faces in Tess (Brie Larson) and Aimes (Alan Ritchson) provide some fun components to the story. Plus, the film has several fun and exciting cameos that people will undoubtedly be talking about. Lastly, this is my favorite performance from Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto. It’s almost as if this particular film was personal to him, and I hope he brings that to the last two.

As you all know, with this franchise, you are bound to see some crazy over-the-top action sequences that will leave you laughing, cheering, and in awe. It was no different in Fast X, but there were some relatively cool sequences, so credit them for upping the ante several times. The music was fantastic, the set locations were great, and it’s a very well-directed film by Louis Leterrier (I’m glad he is coming back).

Overall, Fast X is not only the best time you will have in the theaters all year, but I genuinely believe it’s the best movie of the franchise. The stakes have never been higher, with the action top-notch and Jason Momoa delivering a performance of his lifetime. This is just the beginning of the end of the franchise, and I’ve got my seatbelt fastened and ready for the ride.

Fast X hits its theaters on May 19, 2023.