FURIOUS 7 Is Beyond Ridiculous, But In The Most Awesome Way.

FURIOUS 7

Director: James Wan

Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, and Kurt Russell.

Rated PG-13 for prolonged frenetic sequences of violence, action and mayhem, suggestive content, and brief strong language. 

The first film in this never-ending series was pretty much a carbon copy of Point Break, but with cars. No one could have ever predicted that these films would get a face lift with its fourth installment, and then brace a whole new identity with its fifth and sixth films. Now, the Fast & Furious franchise knows that its strengths lie in its ability to provide over-the-top thrills, and Furious 7 takes this identity to all new heights of absurdity and pure entertainment. 

After taking out international criminal Owen Shaw (Luke Evans) in Fast & Furious 6, Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), and team must deal with Shaw's vindictive older brother, Deckard (Statham). With the help of the U.S. government, the team must retrieve a mysterious tracking system known as God's Eye that will help them locate Deckard Shaw before he takes them out one by one.

Yes, the plot is ridiculous. No, the U.S. government would not contract a street-racing heist team for a mission that would be better suited for SEAL Team Six. Who cares? At this point, if you go to this movie it is because you are a fan of the unbelievable stunts and cheesy thrills that the series is now known for. 

The action is more absurd than it's ever been, so just embrace the fact that once you sit in that seat all forms of reality are left at the door. Director James Wan (Saw, Insidious) stages some truly exciting action sequences that are as fun as they are ludicrous. The dialogue is laughable and would rival the cheesiness of Rocky IV, but it's all in good fun. If I had one problem with the film it would be the lack of both Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. Statham randomly shows up throughout the film, but his formidable presence is never truly felt as it should have been. Johnson is so charismatic and campy that you can't help but miss him when he's not on screen, which he isn't except for the film's opening and ending. 

The film had an uphill battle midway through production when Paul Walker was tragically killed in an accident during a break from filming. The filmmakers and actors took some needed time to grieve for their lost brother, then regrouped to determine how they could honor his memory. Walkers younger brothers, Caleb and Cody, stepped up to help complete their brother's scenes thanks to a script rewrite and some digital magic. The result is a fitting sendoff for Walker's Brian O'Conner that is about as heartfelt and sincere as Hollywood has ever been.

It will be hard to see another F&F film without Walker, but it's easy to believe that he would want the series to move on without him. The retirement of his character could not have been handled with more grace, which is surprising coming from a franchise that has no grace at all. You'll laugh, you'll have fun, and you may even shed a tear by the end. 

RATING: A-