Jeri Jacquin

Charging toward 4K and Bluray from director Louis Leterrier and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is the next story in the Fast and Furious franchise with FAST X.

Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) is happy with son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry) and wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Chris Bridges), Han (Sung Kang) and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) take on a mission in Rome. It is only when Cipher (Charlize Theron) knocks on Dom’s door does he hear that there is no mission in Rome and that the crew is being set up, but by who?

Racing to Rome to warn the crew, it immediately becomes clear (because he makes it clear) that a man named Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa) wants to destroy everything in sight. Tearing through the streets, Dom and Letty are trying to stop a huge metal bomb that is heading straight toward the Vatican. Dante has a grudge against everyone who he feels responsible for his father’s death. He has also decided to take everyone that means something to Dom, especially his son.

But he isn’t your ordinary psychopath, Dante has stolen Cipher’s technology and is using it against Dom taking the groups money and resources as well. If that isn’t enough, Agent Aimes (Alan Ritchson) of the Agency has taken over for Mr. Nobody and wants Dom as well. Running everywhere to avoid Aimes and find Dante, Dom enlists the help of brother Jakob (John Cena) to help protect Little B.

After being arrested in Rome, Letty is taken to a black site where she meets Cipher. Tess (Brie Larson) has decided she is going to do what her father, Mr. Nobody, would do and helps plan the women’s escape. Dom returns to Rio de Janeiro to confront Dante and meets Isabel (Daniela Melchior) Elena’s sister who races cars. It is just another weapon for Dante to use against Dom and he has no problem using it.

Dante has made clear what his intentions are when trying to kidnap Little B, Dom realizes that there is only one way to stop all this – the Fast way!

Diesel as Dom brings the family back together once again. He is spending more time with Brian and Letty and letting the team take on missions. But when Cipher lets him know that the latest mission is a set-up, he has no choice but to try and save them. Diesel’s Dom has mellowed a little bit but he still makes it clear that he can drive a car better than anyone. It is when Dom is forced to make life choices that Diesel shows the grit and determination of this character.

Momoa as Dante is clearly a man with a magazine rack full of daddy issues. It is as if Momoa was let off a psycho chain and allowed to just have fun with this character. Being disgusted with what this character is trying to do, it is hard to maintain indignation when Momoa’s performance is making me laugh! Dante has evil intention and everything is done with flair and dramatic effect and Momoa lives for every moment of it.

Rodriguez as Letty jumps into the fray with Dom and it gets her put in a very, very solitary place but she gets a chance for some payback with Theron as Cipher as the two exchange punches and quips. Perry as son Brian is caught up in adult mayhem and sees up close and personal the life his father has been leading. Larson as Tess sees how the Agency has done the group wrong and decides if they are not going to right it, then she will.

Gibson, Bridges, Kang and Emmanuel continue on with missions given as only they can. Gibson and Bridges argue and scuffle like brothers from start to finish. Kang watches from the sidelines with his very interesting snack choices but there comes a time when he has to face a man he has been avoiding. Emmanuel is the babysitter but is also tech savvy and keeps track of what Dante is doing.

Cena as Jakob gets to spend quality time with Little B and teaches him the ropes, probably in ways no other kid would expect. There is the return also of other characters from the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise that will end up being seen in FAST XI (I’ve already named it see?).

The opening scenes with Paul Walker were lovely as well.

Other cast include Jordana Brewster as Mia Toretto, Gal Gadot as Gisele Yashar, Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs, Joaquim de Almeida as Herman Reyes, Scott Eastwood as Little Nobody, Luis Da Silva as Diogo, Pete Davidson as Bowie, Meadow Walker as the flight attendant, Rita Moreno as Abuelita Toretto, Jason Stratham as Deckard Shaw and Helen Mirren as Queenie.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

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Bonus Features include scene breakdowns with Director Louis Leterrier, a look into this installment’s fast cars and global locations and more all-new featurettes.

FAST X is just that, fast! Going from one spot to another with car chases and car races is everything the franchise is known for. Diesel’s character has mellowed with each film and that’s to be expected with any repeating character. More and more Diesel maintains the belief in family and readily accepts anyone who wants to be part of it all. The thing about family is – you don’t mess with it!

Each destination the crew goes there is a piece of the franchise history ending up in Rio having a street race that leads to adding to an ever-growing Toretto family. From one stop to the next, the story intensifies as Momoa’s character has no problem making each bang bigger and more destructive.

FAST X is filled with an all-star cast and this review could go on and on but, I’d rather everyone experience this film for themselves. Put the pieces together and learn who to trust and where the story is going to curve next. That is what this franchise has done, taken us all over the world with action, speed and thrills.

In the end – this time, it is dangerously about family!

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