A couple of hours ago I completed a 17 hour Fast and the Furious marathon at Alamo Drafthouse, where I watched each film in the series; ending with The Fate of the Furious. As expected, based on the first 7 films in the series, there was a definite increase in the level of action, explosions, and fighting. I especially enjoyed the fighting sequence when Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard (Jason Statham) were in the prison. Though I must admit, the action at time is laughable, or I should say the way the main characters walk out of explosions and fights with 2 scratches and a drop of blood is laughable. I get the need to increase the awe-factor of the action sequences in each film, but it would help to then increase the physical damage to the humans enduring the punches, crashes through glass, and explosions. This is done sometimes, but not often nor consistently. But if I had to choose between more action or more realistic physical damage, I'd say keep the action coming!!
What I love most about the series is its diversity, having main characters of various races, ethnicities, and nationalities and women who are just as tough as the men, if not tougher. And there was no exception here! From the film starting in Havana, Cuba, and revealing that Dom (Vin Diesel) is Cuban (or at least part Cuban), to Hobbs showcasing his Samoan heritage on a soccer field. Then there's Cipher (Charlize Theron). She's the super villain that get's Dom to do her bidding, even if it means going against his team/family. Not only is she a super villain, and a pretty cold-hearted one, it turns out a few of the past villains (who were men) were actually working under her!
The plot was a tad bit predictable in some ways, and I was not a fan of some of the major plot points. The focus was clearly more on pushing the action, not the plot, and understandably so. They and I both know what I came for, and it wasn't necessarily for the plot. I came for the action, and action is what I got!
Overall, The Fate of the Furious is not my fave in the series, but nor is it my least favorite. It was entertaining and full of action, with a few surprises and the possibility of yet another sequel. The series still has some gas 8 films in! So if you're a fan of the series, I recommend going to see it!
8/10