#REVIEW: “F9: THE FAST SAGA”

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

F9: The Fast Saga unfortunately does not live up to the hype that has been built as we’ve endured multiple delays with its release. Surprise returns, ridiculous action sequences, and world-building, perhaps for the end (?) of the Franchise should have made this installment a high-octane trip, but unfortunately it finds itself stalling on the shoulders of the road.

Flashbacks are always a fun way to start a Franchise flick so rich in history, this time around introducing us to a character that should have been discussed at some point previously. Going back to the late ’80s, we see Dom (Vin Diesel) and Jakob (John Cena) as teens at the racetrack with their father, who sadly succumbs to a horrible crash. There is then an ultimatum between the two brothers which separate them and explain why Jakob has never been mentioned prior to this installment. It is revealed that Jakob wants a unstoppable, powerful, world-destroying weapon and has enlisted the help of Cypher (Charlize Theron).  It is up to the Fast Family has to stop them before the world is at Jakob’s feet.

With this being the ninth film, F9: The Fast Saga, the Cast of the Film lacks that gel that should be bringing them closer. Despite Justin Lin returning her to the Director’s chair after achieving success in the past, we feel that no one really riffs-off one another here. With Shaw and Hobbs (Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson) missing this go, the jabs, jokes, and brotherly love noticeably is missing from the Film. Tej and Roman (Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson) still have that great chemistry between them, but they’re certainly not in the Movie long enough to carry the entire load of patented ridiculousness for which the Fast franchise is known and loved. Even worse, its star Vin Diesel’s performance feels like he almost done all of this.

At the core of the Fast franchise are two things, family and escalatingly-daring stunts and action. The family theme in the Franchise seems to take a back seat this time around, despite the villain being actual family ironically. However, the action sequences and car stunts definitely are ramped-up to insane levels here and in that regards it succeeds.

There is not much more room to move for this Franchise, as they have fought submarines, gone to space, stolen DVD players, saved the world from annihilation and even taken down drug dealers. However, a full movie in space may just be what the Franchise ordered! Despite feeling uncharacteristically long,  F9: The Fast Saga certainly fills that popcorn flick-loving crowd’s void, though we were expecting more.

Universal Pictures Canada release F9: THE FAST SAGA theatrically Friday, June 25, 2021.