Fast & Furious 9 – F9 (2021)

Directed by: Justin Lin | 143 minutes | action, crime | Actors: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, Charlize Theron, John Cena, Finn Cole, Sung Kang, Anna Sawai, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell, Lucas Black, Shad Moss, Thue Ersted Rasmussen

“No matter how fast you are, no one outruns their past” is the tagline of this already ninth film (not counting the spin-off ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ from 2019) from the The Fast & the Furious series. That motto no longer applies to the film series itself: initially, racing enthusiasts could not have fun with the action films about illegal street races, petty criminals and gorgeous women (which can also fall into the middle category, by the way). From ‘Fast & Furious’ (2009) (part 4) the focus is actually much more on catching criminals in the form of a collaboration with some government agency (FBI, CIA, MI6). In itself a smart move, because with this premise the series can continue for decades, in the same way as James Bonds. But the past has long since eluded this series.

However, in the beginning of ‘Fast & Furious 9’, also called ‘F9’, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) – just like off-screen before (a forced scenario choice due to the death of Paul Walker) Brian and Mia – has a rest. chosen. He lives in a remote place with his wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and son Brian. Rest, no fast cars, no shoot-outs and megalomaniac villains. But of course that won’t last long. Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges), Ronan (Tyrese Gibson) and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) disrupt the family – there’s work to be done. mr. Nobody’s (Kurt Russell) plane has crashed and an important item must be retrieved before it falls into the wrong hands.

The tagline mainly refers to Dominic. The Toretto family of course never consisted of just Dominic and Mia, there appears to be another brother, with whom there has been no contact for a long time. After a tragic event, the two brothers quarrel. And let it be just that brother, Jacob, who knows all about the object that must secure the corridor.

John Cena as Jakob is not wrong as a casting choice in itself, he does what is expected of the character. It takes the viewer a little more effort to believe that he and Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, are related. But if you don’t like unbelievability, the ‘Fast & Furious’ series is definitely not the place for you. However, ‘Fast & Furious 9’ takes the cake, because you thought the stunts in ‘Furious 7’ (between the three skyscrapers in Dubai) were already over the top, in ‘Fast & Furious 9’ they do even more. on top of. Part of the film takes place outside our atmosphere. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand that this is beyond all the laws of physics. And that high school dropout Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) from ‘The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift’ is, is a self-conscious joke.

Not only Sean returns, there are also other old acquaintances who – sometimes just for a few sentences – show up, such as Helen Mirren and Charlize Theron. Also back is the director: Justin Lin, responsible for films 3 to 6. As an action director he is definitely in the right seat, he knows how to portray adrenaline-boosting stunts and ‘Fast & Furious 9’ has no shortage of that. It is extra nice that a different location has now been chosen: Edinburgh and Tbilisi were not often the setting for a blockbuster in this genre. Cars on vines, mega magnets and a cable through half the Scottish capital: completely absurd and completely idiotic, but definitely entertaining.