The Fate of the Furious – Fan Pleaser with Ridiculous Action Scenes, Fun Characters, Slick New Cars
Now that Dom and Letty are on their honeymoon and Brian and Mia have retired from the game-and the rest of the crew has been exonerated-the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime he can’t seem to escape and a betrayal of those closest to him, they will face trials that will test them as never before. From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, the elite force will crisscross the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing chaos on the world’s stage… and to bring home the man who made them a family. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Benjamin P. comments, “The Fate of the Furious is an enjoyable entry into the Fast and Furious franchise that brings exactly what fans want to see: ridiculous action sequences, fun characters and slick new cars.” Na’im S. adds, “I find the direction and acting to be quite good. Car and action movie fans will rejoice at the movie.” For their full reviews, see below.
The Fate of the Furious
By Benjamin P, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11
The Fate of the Furious is an enjoyable entry into the Fast and Furious franchise that brings exactly what fans want to see: ridiculous action sequences, fun characters and slick new cars.
Directed by F. Gary Gray, The Fate of the Furious opens with Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) on their honeymoon in Cuba when his team is called to assist Luke Hobbs (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) with a mission in Berlin. Dom ruins the mission by going rogue and leaving Hobbs injured on the side of the road. The team soon figures out that Dom is working with a cyber terrorist by the name of Cipher (Charlize Theron). To take down Dom and figure out why he has changed sides, they must enlist the help of old friends as well as new ones.
My favorite part of this film is the jailbreak scene where Hobbs has to stop an old enemy named Deckard (Jason Statham) from escaping prison and wreaking havoc. Seeing two action heroes fighting their way out of prison and preparing to duke it out is exhilarating and had me pumping my fists in the air with excitement. This scene is over-the-top and outrageous but I was having too much fun to care.
I am an outsider to this franchise, having never before seen a Fast and Furious film. I really enjoyed 
this movie. As this franchise has evolved, it has learned what the fans want to see. By not taking itself too seriously, the cheesy dialogue and slow-mo feel a little more fitting with its lighter tone. The way this film works is that it knows it’s absurd and has fun with it.
I don’t love the story because it tries to do too much, a common thing in blockbuster movies today. The opening sequence in Cuba is unnecessary. It barely has anything to do with the plot but it does establish the mood and tone. By upping the ante with ridiculous action from the very start, it prepares the audience for what’s to come. There are also a lot of characters to follow and sometimes the plot gets a little too ridiculous for comfort. But if you’re going to see this film, it’s not for a strong story.
Some performances in this film are very funny. Tyrese Gibson is hilarious as Roman. He has a lot of fun with this role and is very energetic. Dwayne Johnson is another standout who delivers an amusing performance. He maintains his action hero persona while also exercising his comedic chops.
The lesson of this film is that you should never turn your back on family. Even when Dom goes rogue, his team never gives up on him. I recommend this film for ages 14 to 18 for its mild language and 
violence.
I give The Fate of the Furious 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, The Fate of the Furious is a film that should be appealing for outsiders to this franchise as well as those who have been on this ride since the very beginning. This film opens in theaters on April 14th, so be sure to check it out.
The Fate of the Furious
Arjun N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
The Fate of the Furious is the eighth movie in the long running franchise, and it doesn’t disappoint. I 
find the direction and acting to be quite good. Car and action movie fans will rejoice at the movie.
The story is about Dom (Vin Diesel), who is enjoying himself with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) in Cuba. However, Dom encounters Cipher (Charlize Theron), an infamous hacker. Cipher presents Dom with an offer to betray his team and Dom agrees. The reason for his betrayal is unknown and he frames one of the members of his team, Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), for the theft of an EMP. Hobbs is broken out of prison to catch Dom under the condition that he works with an enemy, 
Deckard (Jason Statham). The team, under the lead of Hobbs works together to stop Dom and Cipher.
Vin Diesel, as Dom, is believable in his betrayal and his eagerness to follow Cipher. Michelle Rodriguez, as Letty, presents her love for Dom and her concern for why he is down his dark path in a very convincing way. Charlize Theron, as Cipher, brings thrills and espionage to the film with her coerciveness. Dwayne Johnson, as Hobbs, performs his role well with his macho man physique, despite his corny one-liners. Jason Statham, as Deckard, stands out as my favorite character because of how he banters with Hobbs and how well he fits his action hero role.
From Cuba, to New York, to Russia, the direction of F. Gary Gray is fast paced and packed with action scenes. He handles the character moments well, too. The twist on why Dom betrays his team is an example. My favorite scene is the prison fight with Hobbs and Deckard because the actors are fun to watch and the music choice fits the scene well. My only problem with the movie is that the comedy doesn’t land many times and for me is cringe worthy and cheesy.
The movie’s message is to always trust in your family. The team could easily turn on Dom, but they always try to help him out. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 to 18 due to its intense action and language. This film opens in theaters on April 14th, so check it out if you want a fast ride.
