Fast X Review

After 20 years, ten films, and one spinoff, Fast X arrives as the start of a three-part finale to the Fast & Furious franchise. Directed by Louis Leterrier, this latest instalment promises bigger stunts, louder explosions, and a star-studded cast. But while it delivers the high-octane action fans expect, its bloated runtime, weak narrative, and scattered focus make it feel more like an overlong prologue than a self-contained story.

The film introduces Jason Momoa’s Dante Reyes, the flamboyant and vengeful son of Hernan Reyes, the crime boss Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) defeated in Fast Five. Dante’s mission is simple: make Dom suffer by destroying his family, tarnishing his legacy, and targeting his young son. It’s a straightforward revenge plot that spans 2.5 hours, but it barely sustains its runtime, leaving the movie feeling stretched thin.

Momoa’s performance as Dante is one of the film’s highlights. Initially polarizing in the trailers, he fully embraces the chaotic energy of his character, delivering a sociopathic and darkly humorous portrayal that brings a fresh spark to the franchise. Similarly, John Cena as Jacob Toretto provides some much-needed heart and levity. His scenes with Dom’s son, Little B (Leo Abelo Perry), inject genuine warmth and entertaining action into an otherwise uneven movie.

The action sequences are as wild and over-the-top as ever, with cars careening through cities, massive explosions, and impossible stunts. A standout set piece involves a giant rolling neutron bomb tearing through Rome, and while the spectacle is undeniably fun, it also highlights the franchise’s increasing reliance on CGI. The physicality and grounded stunt work that once defined the series feel like distant memories.

Where Fast X falters most is its lack of focus. The film juggles multiple subplots, from Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) escaping a black site prison to Dom’s gang — Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), and Han (Sung Kang) — on a largely irrelevant side quest. These parallel stories feel disconnected and often grind the momentum to a halt. Even the main storyline struggles under the weight of overdramatic dialogue and an overstuffed cast that leaves many characters with little to do.

Despite its flaws, there are moments of entertainment. Dom’s action sequences still deliver adrenaline-pumping thrills, and the chemistry between Cena and Perry stands out as a bright spot. However, the film’s over-reliance on callbacks, underdeveloped arcs, and predictable twists make it feel more like a greatest-hits compilation than a fresh entry.

Fast X positions itself as the first chapter in a trilogy, but its lack of resolution and reliance on cliffhangers leaves it feeling incomplete. The franchise has always thrived on absurdity and spectacle, but this installment struggles to capture the balance of fun and narrative coherence that defined its peak in Fast Five.

For longtime fans, Fast X offers moments of nostalgia and flashy action, but it’s hard to ignore the sense that the series is running on fumes. With two more films on the horizon, the hope is that the franchise can rediscover the creative spark that made it a global phenomenon in the first place. Until then, this opening lap feels more like a detour than a victory lap.