NFL
By Keith Richards
The penultimate movie of the Fast and Furious saga has arrived! Fast X brings back Dom and the Torreto Clan to face their biggest challenge yet: Dante Reyes. Dante seeks to destory Dom, his family, and anyone who has been part of his expansive family along the way. Why? Revenge. Torreto took Reyes’ family. Reyes vows to destroy Torreto’s. Fast X is a high-octane, comical, (at times) emotional start to the end of the saga. With a star-studded cast, the best performance may surprise you.
Fast X features Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Brie Larson, John Cena, Charlize Theron, and many more. All the actors mentioned give stellar performances, but it’s Jason Momoa who steals the show. Jason Momoa as Dante Reyes is brillant. As the primary antagonist of Fast X, Reyes is a villain that you hate but you love. Yet, you’re okay with it.
Dante is a murderous, vengeful, psychopath who will stop at nothing to make Dom and the Torreto Clan suffer. You get an uneasy feeling that you’re becoming so invested in the enemy but you just can’t help it. You know that feeling you get when you have that last piece of pie on Thanksgiving Day and you know you shouldn’t but it still feels amazing? That’s the performance Momoa gives in Fast X as Dante Reyes.
In the middle of tormenting the Torretos and their associates, he cracks jokes that are equally cruel and hilarious. While feeling bad for the good guys, you still laugh at the joke made by the man who is the cause of their suffering. Yes, Momoa has come a long way since his days as Khal Drogo. Jason shows range I did not believe he was capable of and absolutely steals the show. Still, even with the surprisingly refreshing acting of Jason Momoa, Fast X is not devoid of what people go to see these movies for.
The movies of the Fast and Furious saga are what we thought they were, which is not a knock on them at all. Since the original, these movies have escalated and redefined the expectations of driving action movies. Fast X certainly does not disappoint in that regard. Through ten movies, the saga has moved from the edge of acceptable reality to redefining even the unimaginable. Fast X is the latest chapter of the redefinition of entertaining and unimaginable.
The action sequences are so absurdly over-the-top in Fast X that you can’t help but admire and enjoy them. It’s almost as if they spent time studying kindergarteners playing with Hot Wheels and said, “Yeah, that’ll work.” It works though! It does! If you’re going to ride off into the sunset, you may as well do it with a bang. Also, why change a hugely successful formula that has worked for so long? Give the people what they want.
That is not to say, though, that Fast X is without substance and cohesion. It certainly has those! Though the action sequences are bombastic, the story still shines through. The action ties into Dante’s sadistic plan and complements the story of revenge and family being told. So, if seeing a car cause the destruction of two helicopters is your thing, you will not leave this movie disappointed.
I’m giving this movie a 7 out of 10. The action is what was expected, but the performance of Jason Momoa boosts Fast X to a level I was not expecting. As stated earlier, Fast X has a little bit of everything: action, comedy, emotion, and stellar acting. Given that Vin Diesel revealed that at least one more part is to come, I’ve excited to see what Part 2 brings and will be there to review that one as well.
Be sure to check out our other movie coverage with Team NBS. If you’re going to go see Fast X, let us know what you think!
