The Fate of the
Furious (8/10)
by Tony Medley
Runtime 136 minutes.
OK for children.
I am not an
aficionado of these “Fast and Furious” films, although one or two have
been mildly entertaining. This one is a surprise, more James Bondish
than car crash-centric (although there are car crashes and chases
aplenty). Mostly it’s a steal from Ian Fleming with an evil egomaniac (Charlize
Theron) out to take control of the world by finagling Vin Diesel into
working for her and against his Fast and Furious Gang, headed by Dwayne
Johnson and including Jason Statham and Michele Rodriguez.
While it starts out
with a really silly car race through the streets of Havana, it morphs
into a thriller with more story than the others have presented. The
quality of the acting is elevated by the presence of people like Helen
Mirren, who, even though she just appears in a cameo, outshines
everybody else. Kurt Russell is back in his continuing role and adds
good acting to the group. The light-hearted repartee is appealing and
greatly enhances this fast-paced actioner. Needless to say the special
effects are pretty amazing.
Lovingly photographed
by Stephen F. Windon, Theron has never appeared more beautiful,
malevolent though she may be.
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