A few days back, my friends and I went to see the seventh installment of the Fast and Furious series, unsurprisingly titled Furious 7 or Furious Seven, directed by James Wan, starring the usual folks Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jordana Brewster, along with newcomers Jason Statham, Tony Jaa, and Kurt Russel.
The movie delivers on the whole action package, the one we all subscribed for since the first installment of the series, but then again it always does. Explosions, bullets, stunts and sexual innuendos are indiscriminately thrown in without much reasoning. A small seasoning of humor wraps a neat little bow around the film to be served out to the audience. A well-shot, well-lit, well-acted film with ridiculous action sequences consisting of a car jumping between three buildings, and Vin Diesel surviving multiple falls in various backgrounds. While some people of the audience may love such movies, I personally am not a big fan of action films. However, this movie does recieve a seven out of ten, on my scale, considering the emotional depth and the heart-wrenching ending it serves out.
**SPOILERS**
The movie begins with the new baddie Decker Shaw, brother of previous baddie Owen Shaw, now comatose, promising to avenge his kid brother. Letty and Dom are seen back at Race Wars, and Brian is trying his very best to be a good father.
(The scenes with Paul Walker are physically discomforting to watch, given his death in a car crash in 2013. While Paul charms the audience with his blue eyes and disarming smile, as always, the fact that he's dead, drops a dark veil over the eyes of the viewer.)
The Toretto family house is blown up, the team gathers, and the movie picks up pace. Kurt Russel comes in a few minutes later to provide for the cliche character of the government guy requiring help from the protagonists in return for his own favors. Exotic location. Hot babes. Awesome car getting trashed for no real reason. Finally the deux ex machina arrives in the streets of LA, with The Rock pumping lead into a terrorist helicopter, Diesel going mano-a-mano with Jason Statham, and the rest of the team driving round town with a drone on their ass. Sounds dumb? Kinda is. Until, of course, the final 5 minutes which turns the whole emotion of the movie and stirs of the hearts of every audience member seated. The team is now seated on a beach, seemingly a while after the LA incident, with Brian and Mia further down the shore playing with their young son. The group discusses how life should remain as it is right now, with a not-so-subtle nod to Paul Walker's dying young. The discussion provides for Brian's absence in the following films (if any are made), retiring Paul's character rather than killing him off. Dom then silently gets up and leaves. The movie sort of merges the ending with a tribute now. Brian notices Dom leaving and catches up with him at a crossroads, both in their respective cars, and jokingly says, "You're gonna leave without saying goodbye?". Cue tears. For the first time, the usually stone faced Dom reveals a sad smile, as they both drive down the road, Dom remembering the memories he shared with Brian (Wiz Khalifa's sentimental ode "See You Again" plays in the background), not so different from the ones shared by their real-life counterparts. They share one last heartbreaking look as Vin/Dom finishes up his monologue, and they both go their separate ways with the camera following Paul/Brian's car, representing Paul's ascent to heaven. A final title card reads "For Paul".
You may sob now.
That final 5 minutes is so powerful and breathtakingly beautiful that it's worth watching the rest of the cesspool of flying cars and insane stunts. Exit theater with misty eyes.
Rest in peace, Paul Walker.
7/10.
**SPOILERS**
The movie begins with the new baddie Decker Shaw, brother of previous baddie Owen Shaw, now comatose, promising to avenge his kid brother. Letty and Dom are seen back at Race Wars, and Brian is trying his very best to be a good father.
(The scenes with Paul Walker are physically discomforting to watch, given his death in a car crash in 2013. While Paul charms the audience with his blue eyes and disarming smile, as always, the fact that he's dead, drops a dark veil over the eyes of the viewer.)
The Toretto family house is blown up, the team gathers, and the movie picks up pace. Kurt Russel comes in a few minutes later to provide for the cliche character of the government guy requiring help from the protagonists in return for his own favors. Exotic location. Hot babes. Awesome car getting trashed for no real reason. Finally the deux ex machina arrives in the streets of LA, with The Rock pumping lead into a terrorist helicopter, Diesel going mano-a-mano with Jason Statham, and the rest of the team driving round town with a drone on their ass. Sounds dumb? Kinda is. Until, of course, the final 5 minutes which turns the whole emotion of the movie and stirs of the hearts of every audience member seated. The team is now seated on a beach, seemingly a while after the LA incident, with Brian and Mia further down the shore playing with their young son. The group discusses how life should remain as it is right now, with a not-so-subtle nod to Paul Walker's dying young. The discussion provides for Brian's absence in the following films (if any are made), retiring Paul's character rather than killing him off. Dom then silently gets up and leaves. The movie sort of merges the ending with a tribute now. Brian notices Dom leaving and catches up with him at a crossroads, both in their respective cars, and jokingly says, "You're gonna leave without saying goodbye?". Cue tears. For the first time, the usually stone faced Dom reveals a sad smile, as they both drive down the road, Dom remembering the memories he shared with Brian (Wiz Khalifa's sentimental ode "See You Again" plays in the background), not so different from the ones shared by their real-life counterparts. They share one last heartbreaking look as Vin/Dom finishes up his monologue, and they both go their separate ways with the camera following Paul/Brian's car, representing Paul's ascent to heaven. A final title card reads "For Paul".
You may sob now.
That final 5 minutes is so powerful and breathtakingly beautiful that it's worth watching the rest of the cesspool of flying cars and insane stunts. Exit theater with misty eyes.
Rest in peace, Paul Walker.
7/10.
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