F9

Just when you thought the Fast & Furious franchise couldn't get any crazier, after already involving tanks and submarines, F9 steps up the over the top high octane insanity while reminding us how family is important. This entry sees Dom and his team taking on his long lost brother, Jakob, who has formed his own crime organization and managed to capture Cipher, Charlize Theron's villain from the last entry. Eventually, this mission leads them to learning about the survival of a long thought dead friend, going into space to destroy a satellite, and a highway chase using powerful magnets. All throughout we get flashbacks to when Dom and Jakob were younger focusing on their father's death and their eventual fallout. As usual with this franchise, if they manage to think of a way to create the most insane of stunts involving cars then you bet they're putting in this film. The usual cast of Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Nathalie Emmanuel return as well as Jordana Brewster, Theron, Sung Kang, and newcomer John Cena. Considering what type of movie everyone knows they're in and this being the tenth film in the franchise, the performances are always strong with great dramatic reads and well done comedic bits. That's not to say that the writing is awe-inspiring, it's the typical tough action film with lots of formulaic moments and plot holes galore. But everyone involved is so committed that often you don't really worry about that, all thanks to returning director Justin Lin's eye for awesome action sequences. Though some of them can feel either too over the top by breaking the laws of physics that it takes you out of it or may be over edited, but only a few have that specific problem. One of the strongest points is definitely the flashbacks as we get to dive deep into Dom's past and how he became the man he is today. And yes, at one point we do have a sequence set in space and while a crazy idea, is only done near the end and does feel earned. So even if F9 just another typical action film, these characters we've come to love over the years and the crazy adventures and stunts they pull off is exactly why we keep coming back. Over all: 80%

2021 top list so far:

1. In the Heights

2. Nobody

3. A Quiet Place Part II

4. Raya and the Last Dragon

5. Cruella

6. Wrath of Man

7. F9