There’s no doubt that the only screens big enough to do justice to the out-sized “Furious 7” are giant-format IMAX theaters.
Even then, it often feels like the screen will barely contain the epic chases and fighting that only lets up for a few seconds a couple of times over the course of the equally massive 2-hour, 15-minute running time.
The pervasive car revving and smash-mouth visuals get a jump-start during the familiar IMAX pre-titles branding countdown, setting the stage for the flag to drop on what no one would have guessed in 2001 would be a seventh installment in this franchise created by Gary Scott Thompson.
And who knew the story of lower-income fast car lovers from the hood would wind up doing the Tom Cruise high-tech, high-stakes espionage thing in Dubai as if they were the IMF force of “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol?”
While this installment may go even more over-the-top than usual, may not feel as real and gritty as the first one or quite as enjoyable as “Fast Five” or “Fast and Furious 6,” those are personal preferences, and there is no denying this one still holds your attention (by the throat) and keeps you entertained.
No matter which episodes you prefer, everyone will agree that the filmmakers nailed it with the handling of the loss of Paul Walker, one of the two primary stars of the series. Without giving anything away, suffice it to say that the choice of how to deal with the fact that his character will not be returning is brilliant, respectful, effective, and touching, right down to the final white text over the black screen that will give you a lump in your throat.
The filmmakers were equally adept at working around Walker’s abscence for many required shots following his death in a car crash unrelated to the movie when he had only completed about half his scenes. If you’re looking closely, you’ll see his brothers and others doubling for him in certain scenes, and at least one other taken from a prior movie, and apparently some digital magic as well. But none of this is obvious or a distraction, but rather nearly seamless and tasteful.
Oh, as for the story and the actors, it’s a hoot to see MMA star Ronda Rousey take on Michelle Rodriguez and employ her signature leg-lock (second movie in a row that Rodriguez has taken on a female MMA star), and fun to see Kurt Russell join the ever-growing gang, and Jason Statham is fine as the cartoon-ishly unbreakable villain, as are the rest of the Furious team, though none really stand out. And while the writing wisely keeps the running thread of ties to family and friends, this series has always been about the cars, the sexy women, and this time also the unplanned departure of one of the team leaders.
— By Scott Hettrick