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After Paul Walker’s shocking death in November of 2013, fans wondered what would happen to the Fast and Furious franchise—and the seventh film in the series, which Walker was in the process of shooting at the time of his death. But now, after delays, rewrites, and reshoots, the beloved star gets the biggest, wildest, most over-the-top send-off imaginable in his final film, Furious 7.
The seventh film in this high-octane franchise finds the crew targeted by Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), the vengeful brother of defeated terrorist Owen Shaw (from Fast & Furious 6). Shaw claims his first victim in Tokyo before turning his attention to Dom (Vin Diesel), Brian (Walker), and their family—so they decide to find him before he kills another member of their team.
In order to locate Shaw, the crew works with a shadowy government official known as Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell), who pits them against a Somali terrorist on a mission to recover a super-tracking program called God’s Eye.
Admittedly, the story here is needlessly complex, with layers upon layers of villains and terrorists and other mysterious characters all crammed together into one larger-than-life adventure. But not only do the interconnected storylines allow for a massive ensemble of both old cast members and new ones; they also keep the film’s energy at a mind-boggling level. The crew doesn’t have a whole lot of time to sit around and discuss their plans—because if Shaw isn’t hot on their heels, they’re being chased down by heavily-armed drones. Sometimes, it’s both at the same time.
As you can imagine, then, Furious 7 is bigger, crazier, and more outrageously explosive than ever before, as the crew travels the world for one extravagant action sequence after another. Though the franchise shifted its focus from simple street racing to high-speed heists years ago, the cars are still fast, and the action is still intense. But while this adrenaline-pumping adventure is loaded with car chases and girl fights, terrorists and assassins, it never takes itself too seriously. Everything about it is over the top—from the stunts to the corny one-liners—and it’s all done in good fun. Director James Wan gets the tone just right, and the mix of non-stop action and good-natured laughs will have audiences struggling to catch their breath from one scene to the next.
Of course, Furious 7 isn’t all fun and games. And while it’s good to have the gang back together again, it’s impossible to forget that this is the last time. The circumstances often make the film bittersweet and emotional—and when the characters speed off into the sunset, the rev of their engines will be accompanied by sniffles from the audience.
Furious 7 is a fitting tribute to the franchise’s fallen hero. It’s everything that fans love about the series: it’s big, it’s loud, it’s explosive, and it’s a whole lot of fun to watch. In another month or so, theaters will be crammed full of summer blockbusters—but this fun-filled, super-charged thriller is going to be a tough act to follow.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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