Cars In The Clouds
Furious 7 (also known as Fast & Furious 7)
Stars: Vin Diesel, (the late) Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Nathalie Emmanuel, Kurt Russell, Jason Statham, Chris Bridges, Tony Jaa and Djimon Hounsou
Director: James Wan
Scriptwriter: Chris Morgan
Composer: Brian Tyler
Cinematographer: Stephen F. Windom
Universal
Rating: PG 13 for action violence
Running Length: 135 minutes
A film production with acrobatic cars (they seem to have lives of their own) is usually a time to sit back, relax and enjoy something you may see one day on the Freeway at rush hour. However, in “Furious 7,” one of the actors is no more. Paul Walker, who originated the role of Brian in this film series, died in an auto accident November 2014. This film was half finished, and through stand-in’s, script changes and a pulling together of fortitude for the cast and crew, the movie was finished. “Furious 7” has a heart and allows fans closure and an opening for the series to continue. At this rate, the writers will find a way to have cars on the moon, Mars and beyond. Matthew McConaughey, watch out, if there is an “Interstellar 2,” you may find Vin Diesel out there somewhere.
The basic plot for "Furious 7" is of revenge. Last movie, the villain Owen Shaw was placed in a coma, so this film has his brother Deckard (Jason Statham) coming for Dominic’s (Vin Diesel) group of drivers. Besides the revenge factor, the opposite sides are after “God’s Eye” a computer program that can track anyone, anywhere. The hacker (Ramsey played by Nathalie Emmanuel) who obtains this, is being chased by just about everyone, so the goals are (1) revenge, (2) get God’s Eye from Ramsey, (3) fight off anyone else in the way (Jakanda played by Djimon Hounsou), and (4) and at the end of the day, pull aching muscles together enough to go home and relax. Just your typical adventure. In-between, is the side story of Dominic’s girlfriend, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) who hasn't gotten all of her memories back from a few movies ago, and Brian (Paul Walker) and his wife, Mia (Jordana Brewster and in the films, Vin Diesel’s sister) trying to make a home for their child.
The stunts are spectacular. From Brian trying to get out of a bus on a cliff (think “Jurassic Park” here) to the drivers parachuting from an airplane in flight and landing in one piece to continue their job, to bombs and grenades going off to helicopters that come on the scene, dialogue is unimportant. How long you have to grab a handful of popcorn and put it in your mouth, is important and can you do it in mili-seconds?
Acting is OK and there is so much going on just getting one’s dialogue out is sufficient. However, with this film, fans will savor ever word Paul Walker has to say. The film does his character justice and there are enough characters on the landscape to insure the series continues
From Day One, I have enjoyed the “Fast & Furious” series and remember after the first film, a friend, coming out of the movie theater, saying “It seems sad that I can floor my 18-year-old car and still go 30 mph." I told this person they would never get a speeding ticket. “Tokyo Drift” with Lucas Black (now in “NCIS: New Orleans”) was a favorite because their method of driving is like driving on an ice-covered Wisconsin lake. Black has a bit part in “Furious 7” as an indication of things to come. The “Fast & Furious” films are entertainment and escaping to a world of fast cars, adventure, humor and chasing the bad guys. Unfortunately, time sometimes runs out.
Copyright 2015 Marie Asner
For more Fast & Furious/Vin Diesel film reviews, see the following:
Fast and Furious
http://www.tollbooth.org/2009/movies/fandf.html
Riddick
http://www.tollbooth.org/index.php/past-issues/past-movie-reviews/981-riddick
