Actor Paul Walker’s passing back in the 2013 was a very sad moment and happened midway through the filming of F&F 7. It caused a number of delays while they rewrote the script. Walker was a very well established journeyman actor and was well liked by all who knew him. This plays out sombrely in the latest film as the series has always focused on a group dynamic and championed the virtues of being part of an extended family.

The filmmakers have done a good job of staying true to Walker’s established character in the series and have successfully integrated the existing footage of Walker into the new story lines. There are only a few instances during scenes of hand-to-hand combat where it becomes somewhat obvious that there is a stand-in double being utilized.

The story line this time out follows the set up from the final scenes of the previous edition in the series, where the brother of the big bad that the group has just dispensed seeks revenge. This new character is played by action star Jason Statham and he looks to be a more permanent addition to the cast. Statham continues his few words but big fists approach with effectiveness.

Even with the solemn vibe present, the latest Fast & Furious is still a joyous thing to behold as all the cast and crew gleefully disregard the laws of physics and common sense, as they pull no punches in creating one of the most extreme automotive action films ever made. It goes way beyond the suspension of disbelief mode and enters the pure fun zone with a dedication that is an absolute thrill to behold.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU

Throughout the franchise each film has presented an automotive variant of an established genre. In order these have been: Point Break, buddy cop movie, crap movie, drug runner movie, heist movie, action blockbuster and with this last instalment, Mission Impossible. Furious7 is a long way from The Fast and the Furious, to be sure, but the transition has largely been successful due to the not inconsiderable charisma of Vin Diesel, the appeal of muscle cars and fast four pocket rockets, and the supremely outrageous but entertaining car-oriented action. Unfortunately, there’s still no Monaro or GTHO.

With the addition of Jason Statham, Kurt Russell and (to a lesser extent) Lucas Black from Tokyo Drift to an already distinguished headline cast, F&F is seriously heading into Expendable territory. In fact, the cast is so top heavy now that the Rock has to largely sit this one out! But fear not, he does feature in a significant way albeit in a smaller capacity.

As indicated in the final moments of Furious 6, F7 takes place directly after the events depicted in Tokyo Drift and appropriately revisits the conclusion of the Tokyo episode. Curiously, we are robbed of the drift match between Diesel and Black that was alluded to at the end of that film – a race we’ve been waiting 9 years to see! Alas it is not to be. (As a side note, as rubbish as Tokyo Drift is, it’s worth revisiting it in context of the series as a whole if only to revisit Han (Sung Kang) as a completion to his arc plot.)

The elephant in the room, of course, is Paul Walker’s death during (but unrelated to) the shoot. He was replaced in the film with a combination of body double (his sibling) and CGI. The result is completely successful and not once do you think that you’re not looking at the real Paul Walker on the screen.

Walker’s departure from this franchise (and this earth) is handled with the utmost of respect and elegance in a final tribute that will have the tears welling up. It adds an uncommon poignancy to what looks like will be the final film in the franchise – there’s no post credit suggestion of a sequel at the end of this one, folks.

At movie #7, Furious 7 is like visiting old friends – it feels like we’ve become part of Dom’s family ourselves. It represents the franchise at the top of its game in terms of action, charismatic performances from all involved, intricate plotting and bat shit crazy car stunts. This combined with the beautiful, heartfelt send off given to Paul Walker; Furious 7 threatens to be the best in the series. And if this is indeed the last of the franchise (notwithstanding some redundant “reboot” in the near future), it’s a great way to go out.

Stuart Jamieson
www.fastandfurious7.com.au

Actor Paul Walker’s passing back in the 2013 was a very sad moment and happened midway through the filming of F&F 7. It caused a number of delays while they rewrote the script. Walker was a very well established journeyman actor and was well liked by all who knew him. This plays out sombrely in the latest film as the series has always focused on a group dynamic and championed the virtues of being part of an extended family.

The filmmakers have done a good job of staying true to Walker’s established character in the series and have successfully integrated the existing footage of Walker into the new story lines. There are only a few instances during scenes of hand-to-hand combat where it becomes somewhat obvious that there is a stand-in double being utilized.

The story line this time out follows the set up from the final scenes of the previous edition in the series, where the brother of the big bad that the group has just dispensed seeks revenge. This new character is played by action star Jason Statham and he looks to be a more permanent addition to the cast. Statham continues his few words but big fists approach with effectiveness.

Even with the solemn vibe present, the latest Fast & Furious is still a joyous thing to behold as all the cast and crew gleefully disregard the laws of physics and common sense, as they pull no punches in creating one of the most extreme automotive action films ever made. It goes way beyond the suspension of disbelief mode and enters the pure fun zone with a dedication that is an absolute thrill to behold.

Rob Hudson
www.fastandfurious7.com.au

For although the F&F films are well known for their dubious (albeit spectacularly exciting) car play, the opening scene in this episode stretches implausibility to a level which is hard to swallow even for these movies. It pays to only follow this film in the broadest of strokes as the details rarely add up.

The tagline from the previous film – ‘new model, original parts’ – is even truer this time around as Fast Five nicely consolidates all the entries to date by drawing together key figures from the previous four movies for ‘one last job’. Of course, by the time the movie draws to its conclusion it will be revealed that the films producers have at least one more ‘one last job’ up their sleeves.

But while the attempts to tie all the films together into an arc plot are admirable, the subsequent increase in reliance of character is problematic; partly because this cast isn’t the greatest bunch of actors in the world but mostly because it gets in the way of the cars which are the real stars of the franchise. We don’t want to hear these guys talk, we want to see them race!

It’s this scantness of street racing that represents the movies weakness. The car races are the battles of these films; it’s what makes them different and more exciting than other action flicks. Sections of this movie look more like Black Hawk Down than F&F and its uniqueness is diminished as a result. Dom Torretto (Vin Deisel) has transformed from tough ace driver to xXx who occasionally gets in a car and the film is lesser for it.

The dynamic between Paul Walker and Vin Deisel is diminished in this film also; theirs is much better when their rivalry is serious. Here, they’re just racing each other for fun; there’s no stakes involved and therefore little tension.

Could this be the beginning of the end for F&F? It’s too early to say. After all, the franchise looked cut and dried after Tokyo Drift only to be revived by the fourth installment. It does cement the theory, however, that the Diesel entries are the worthy ones as even this movie is superior to 2 Fast 2 Furious and Tokyo Drift.

There’s probably life left in the old girl yet but it needs a polish and an injection of nitrous oxide to get it back on track and up to speed.
Stuart Jamieson

The Fast and the Furious (2001) was practically a carbon copy of Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break and Fast & Furious (2009) had elements very reminiscent of Bill Duke’s Deep Cover. Finally Furious 6 presents an original script that doesn’t completely suck like its predecessors: 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Fast Five.

The film begins with a nice round up of all the films so far over its opening credits, foregoing the big opening action sequence of its predecessors. This is probably a good thing given the outrageously impossible opener for Fast Five.

In movieland there is a fine line between the very, very unfeasible and the downright impossible, but the difference is critical for wowing audiences whilst simultaneously allowing them to suspend their disbelief and thus preserve the fantasy of the story. Admittedly, ignorance is bliss too. Fast and Furious got it right; Fast Five got it horribly wrong (thanks mainly to its opening sequence). Thankfully, Furious 6 once more moves to the positive side of the equation (if only just).

From this cast, which mostly reprises that of the previous film, we get what we expect in solid terms. All the girls are pretty. The diverse array of cars are mean and fast (though there’s still no Monaro or GTHO!) Diesel is Diesel and we love him for it. Same for The Rock. Thankfully Dwayne Johnson is less lubed up in this one. Indeed there’s even a playful joke or two referencing his excessive moistness in Fast Five. And with the films obligatory sequel-suggesting epilogue, this franchise is starting to look as good as The Expendables cast-wise!

The result is a film that is as fun as it is outrageous. Given that half the movies in this franchise are now good ones, let’s hope that the 7th instalment of Fast and Furious makes it a majority.
Stuart Jamieson