In a world where minimalistic design reigns supreme, Fast X goes for the exact opposite. Instead of trying to keep things on the down low, Fast X is as obnoxiously loud as those Honda Civics you see frequently on the streets blasting away with their exhaust pipes every chance they get. And, while a lot of people might not necessarily be a fan of such set-ups, there’s a reason why you see plenty of these cars all over the globe – they’re popular.
Fast X is like those Civics in that way. Ironically, the first Fast and Furious film is arguably one of the reasons why said Civics are so popular in the first place.
Talk about full circle, eh?
As Fast X revs in wait for its chance to blast into theaters on May 19, critics got a chance to tell everyone what they thought of the film, and we’ve got to admit, it wasn’t unexpected.
Similar to the first reactions, Fast X is as Fast and Furious as a film can get albeit of lower quality. But, it’s much louder, more explosive, and more audacious as it ups the stakes and bends reality in a way that no film has before it.
This is saying a lot after F9 brought the series literally to outer space.
At the time of writing, Fast X has a 57% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 117 reviews. The scores will likely shift as more outlets get a chance to publish their opinions. Since it isn’t out yet, audience ratings aren’t available either.
Here’s a round-up of the scores notable critics gave Fast X:
- Daily Telegraph (UK) – 4/5
- Observer – 3.5/4
- Empire Magazine – 3/5
- Tribune News Service – 2.5/4
- ScreenCrush – 3/10
- Slant Magazine – 1.5/4
- New York Post – 1/4
Honda Civics and their loud exhausts, right?
All jokes aside, the tenth chapter in the adrenaline-fueled franchise raises the bar and treats audiences to a rollercoaster of a ride, which most critics aren’t afraid to note. But, not everyone is a fan of the spectacle. If you strip Fast X off its hich-tane car chases and audacious stunts, you’re left with a lackluster story with a narrative that leaves little to no lasting impact on you.
Then again, this is what every Fast and Furious film has always been. Once you accept that, you’d understand why Universal Pictures believes so much in Fast X’s performance at the global box office that it has ordered another film to turn the finale from a duology to a trilogy.
Fast X is aware that it isn’t here to tell a compelling story that weaves together strands of loyalty, family, and redemption, even though it might seem like that at first glance.
At its very core, Fast X is about the growling exhausts of muscle cars and screeching tires on the asphalt, all of which are presented with top-notch visual aesthetics and expertly choreographed action sequences, which it delivers.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from critics in recent months, it’s that they don’t always decide the fate of a film at the global box office.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 didn’t get the warmest reception from critics and they’re on track to being the two biggest films of the year. Fast X could make this a trio on May 19.
A crowd-pleaser that married high-speed action with deeply felt emotion, Fast X will keep viewers on the edge of their seats from the start to the finish while making them reach for the issues.
Fast X won’t be winning any awards anytime soon, but it should be a fun ride.
