It may be redundant, but “The Fate of the Furious” is the excitement we crave!
“The Fate of the Furious” centers around Dom (Vin Diesel) and the betrayal of his friends due to a woman’s (Charlize Theron) mysterious influence. The gang unites to uncover the mystery by employing the help of a former adversary and engages in their biggest adventure yet.
Cinematics (Cinematography, Acting, Plot, etc.) – 2.5
At this point the “Fast and Furious” franchise tends to reuse and revamp the same plot. “Fate of the Furious” is no different in that regard. Many of the plot elements and characters remain the same with a new twist that differentiates it from the previous films. This time Dom turns on his crew for an unknown reason and has partnered the villainous Cipher (Charlize Theron). The crew employs the help of their “Furious 7” adversary Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) to combat Dom and Cipher. This is a similar transition like we’ve seen with other enemies turned allies in subsequent films like Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Gisele (Gal Gadot). Essentially, outside of the discovery of the reason for Dom’s betrayal, the bulk of “The Fate of the Furious” plays out like the other films. It relies upon the action and setting to drive the film.
While relying heavily on the action, this is an element that Director F. Gary Gray captures very well. The franchise may be formulaic and predictable but many of the car chases and other action sequences are presented in a visually aesthetic fashion. A key scene from the trailers where Dom is surrounded at a four lane intersection stands out based on perspective. The shots are well timed and well placed with Dom’s car in the center and the camera moving to different angles to show him taking down his opposition. Even the scene on the ice, while ridiculous, has just the right amount of lighting and camera variations to give perspective from the plethora of characters involved.
The outrageous nature of “The Fate of the Furious” also extends to the dialogue. The characters remain one dimensional with a singular purpose. I wouldn’t say that there are any poor performances as the actors tend to play to their roles presented, but some of the words that come out of the exchanges are purposefully campy. The scenes with Charlize Theron are a slightly more intense as she finds a way to deliver a more standout performance among the rest of the cast, but ultimately her character falls into the same simplistic fate as the rest.
Overall “The Fate of the Furious” relies on its roots which are action sequences. The characters and most of the plot show little variation from previous films making the film’s strongest element the car chases which are executed amazingly well.
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Entertainment Value – 4
It’s the same recycled material we’ve seen before but I’ll be damned if “The Fate of the Furious” is not ridiculous fun. There is a reason that sequels continue to be made and it’s because these films are simple popcorn fun with a recognizable cast. In “The Fate of the Furious” they throw just about everything into the mix for those that who appreciate action films. In addition to the car sequences we love, A-list action stars like Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham show off their hand-to-hand combat skills for a more intimate perspective. Statham’s speed and Johnson’s pure brute strength provide a good variety for those that enjoy less of the blockbuster style action.
But as for the blockbuster action, “The Fate of the Furious” knocks things up a notch. It’s absurd and outlandish when you hear about scenes like a car versus a submarine, but the creators are aware of the nature of the films and play to the spectacle. The action never seems to stop either. From the start of the film to the finish, things remain fast paced while consistently changing the locale so it never feels redundant.
When it comes to viewing this film in 4K, I definitely noticed the rich detail that looked more like practical effects even if they were CG. The colors popped and the picture quality remained crisp throughout. What really accentuated the UHD features was the sound. It reminded me of the first “Fast and Furious” film which tailored the DVD release to be a staple in home entertainment systems. Even on standard sound system like a sound bar, there was a solid range of variable sound that created a household cinematic experience.
The concept may not be original nor is it revolutionary, but the film (especially in 4K) remains to be undeniably fun.
Re-Watchability – 3
Redundancy is prevalent throughout the franchise but most of the films are fun to watch over and over again. In this scenario it would come down to a matter of comparison to other films in the franchise as to whether or not I would rewatch “The Fate of the Furious.” As far as 4K viewing goes, this would rank above some of the other films but for nostalgic purposes, the Paul Walker versions had a stronger element of family which is an underlying message of the franchise. I would probably add this to my home viewing collection to keep the set complete and watch it a few times more as something to pass the time.