During his career Vin Diesel has played various characters, but he’s mainly an actor who has been successful as an action star in his Fast & Furious and Riddick movies and the extreme sports version of James Bond: xXx. The first movie in the franchise was bizarre but enjoyable and in the sequel his role was played by Ice Cube. As the title already implies Diesel is back (after 15 years). Does that result in a film worth watching? Hell yes.
During it’s opening moments, during a monologue by Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson), it becomes clear that this is a movie which doesn’t really take itself seriously. In that scene Gibbons tries to convince football (soccer) player Neymar that he should also become member of the xXx organisation. It immediately sets the tone for the rest of the film, which only wants to deliver one thing: bizarre action. Whether it is a chase in which motorcycles are able to ride on water, Vin Diesel gliding through the jungle on skis or a fight on a highway where oncoming cars can’t always be evaded…they are all original moments which you probably haven’t seen in any other movie before.
Diesel has managed to assemble a nice cast, consisting of Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, Deepika Padukone and Ruby Rose. This results in some very cool moments, with a fight in which Yen is involved is one of the highlights. The concept behind Fast & Furious, in which a tightly night crew slowly forms, is used here as well and does so successfully. Together they are looking for a device that enables its user to use satellites as weapons by making them crash to earth. It doesn’t get any more complicated than that. It’s all about great brainless action, oneliners and more action. If you go in not expecting much this is an enjoyable movie which is exactly what Fate of the Furious should have been. Stupid action with a big smile.
