F9, also known as Fast & Furious 9, is a 2021 action film directed by Justin Lin, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Daniel Casey. It is the sequel to 2017’s The Fate of the Furious , and is the ninth main installment, and the tenth full-length film released overall in the Fast & Furious franchise (Hobbs & Shaw).
It is also the first film since Fast & Furious 6 (2013) to be directed by Lin after James Wan stepped in for Fast 7 and F. Gary Gray for The Fate of the Furious. The incredible cast includes Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, John Cena, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Michael Rooker, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell, and Charlize Theron.
F9 was originally scheduled for worldwide release in April 2020, but was delayed several times. The first few delays were caused by the releases of Hobbs & Shaw (2019) and No Time to Die (2021), and then the COVID-19 pandemic. F9 finally released internationally on May 19th, 2021, and in the U.S. on June 25th.
THE GOOD
Finally!! After what seemed like never-ending delays, the latest entry in the glorious Fast & Furious franchise is finally in theaters - and I felt like a high school kid without a worry in the world all over again as I walked into the theater. If you can’t tell already, I love this franchise.
Every movie is pedal to the metal especially as of late, and you can rest assured that F9 is no different. Dom and Letty have settled down and are living the family life, but are called into action when they find out that Cypher is once again threatening everything they care about most. We are quickly greeted with the always hilarious humor of Tyrese Gibson’s character, Roman, as the gang gets back together. The opening action sequence alone challenges the previous few films, which is impressive to say the least. Audiences are given a look at some never-before-seen backstory on the history of the Toretto family, and how racing and cars in general became engrained in Dom’s DNA. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of what things were like for him growing up, and really liked how they handled that aspect of the film. F9 almost feels like an origin story in many ways.
As I mentioned the action is a given once again, but the humor is also front and center in the film. Tyrese and Ludacris continue to provide the majority of the comic relief. F9 also serves as a fantastic tie in to the forgotten entry in the franchise, Tokyo Drift, which I thought was very cool. This helps to take the storyline in a new direction that has been hinted at over the last few entries. For that reason, F9 does take a break in the action to focus a bit more on the backstory before things come full circle in the end.
The cast has always been a driving force for this franchise, and that is the case here as well. The core group from Furious 7 and F8 are accounted for, minus Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. The newest addition to the franchise, John Cena, makes himself right at home. I enjoyed the story arc that puts him on a collision course with the team, and something tells me we haven’t seen the last of him.
In typical Fast & Furious fashion, the CGI and special effects are absolutely top notch. We’ve come to accept the over-the-top impossible stunts at this point, so we can just sit back and enjoy the next jaw-dropping insane feat they throw at us - and a treat it is. With an estimated 200 million budget, which is likely much higher than that with marketing costs etc, no expense is spared yet again. The car chases, if you can even call them that, get crazier and crazier in each movie and the ante is somehow upped yet again. The other thing I cannot get enough of with these movies is the soundtrack, and it is hitting as hard as ever for this movie.
THE BAD
F9 will satisfy it’s loyal fanbase without question, but it isn’t perfect. My biggest issue is the fact that it can feel a little slow at times, specifically during the middle of the film, but luckily that is fairly short lived. I’ve seen every movie in the Fast & Furious franchise several times and own each one on Blu-ray, but decided to re-watch only Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious (F8) before going to see F9.
For this reason, I did find myself noticing the void left by Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham’s respective characters, both of which played a big part in those two films. Johnson leaves the biggest void with his larger than life personality, so hopefully he comes out of “retirement” in the next film. I also would have preferred to see more of Kurt Russell’s Mr. Nobody character, and his right hand man that we were introduced to in F8 known only as “Little Nobody”, played by Scott Eastwood.
THE VERDICT
Sticking with a tried-and-true formula while adding another big name to the franchise, F9 smoothly shifts gears blending action, humor, and quality storytelling yet again. This serves as an origin story of sorts for Dominic Toretto, and is the perfect transition to the inevitable 10th film - just be sure to stick around for the post credits scene. I also really liked how they made sure to keep Brian’s legacy alive in the final scene, which reminded me why I love this franchise so much. They just get it. F9 is the official introduction to the summer movie season, so do yourself a favor and be sure to see it in theaters, you’ll be glad you did.
TED TAKES RATING - 8/10
F9 is now playing only in theaters. Check out the official trailer below.
Check out our BONUS REVIEW for Furious 7: The Last Ride here.