F9: The Fast Saga

Synopsis: Dom Toretto is living the quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, but they know that danger always lurks just over the peaceful horizon. This time, that threat forces Dom to confront the sins of his past to save those he loves most. His crew soon comes together to stop a world-shattering plot by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they've ever encountered -- Dom's forsaken brother.

Movie Review:

“F9” is once again directed by Justin Lin who returns to the franchise after the 6th film, and he delivered an over-the-top action spy film that is full of highly ridiculous, laughable moments. I enjoyed every bit of it. The on- screen chemistry among the cast of actors makes this movie stand out. Vin Diesel reprises his role of Dominic Toretto (a super spy mechanic), and this movie portrays a more personal story of him. Vin Diesel has some emotional scenes confronting his past. Michelle Rodriguez returns to play Dom’s girlfriend Letty who is one of the best female characters in the series. She proves that once again that she is a not a damsel in distress but a strong woman who can take care of herself. She also has some action scenes that are exciting to watch. Jordana Brewster returns as Mia (Dominic Toretto’s sister), and it was refreshing to see her do more action scenes, as well as some dramatic scenes. Ludacris and Tyrese play Tej and Roman who are the comedic force of the movie. However, Roman is annoying at times when his jokes become flat and unfunny. Jon Cena plays Jakob (a surprising younger brother of Dom’s) who adds a backstory to Dom’s character and his relationship with his family. Jakob is also a weak uninteresting villain. The standout in the film is Sung Kang who finally returns as Han, and he is my favorite character of this franchise. His return does not disappoint since you find out more about his past and that was interesting. Kang delivers some of the best scenes in the movie. Even though he did die in a previous film, I was just happy that he is back. There are several problems that I found with the film: first, there are just too many villains all of which I didn’t like especially Otto. Second, Charlize Theron is back as Cipher, but she is wasted in the movie. Third, the movie spends a lot of time explaining backstories and flashbacks that kind of just set up another movie. Finally, it is way too long. But with all its flaws, if you like a spy action film, you will like this one. I am giving “F9” a 3.5/5 stars.

Director: Justin Lin

Cast: Vin Diesel, John Cena, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Ludacris, Sung Kang, Nathalie Emmanuel, Helen Mirren, Michael Rooker, Finn Cole, Anna Sawai with Kurt Russell, and Charlize Theron

Runtime: 145 minutes