This movie is in some ways more of the same from this franchise, but ramped up to the next level. It has a bigger heist, more questionable physics, and a bigger guy (Dwayne Johnson) chasing the protagonists. The emphasis on family and low-level street crime has been mostly done away with in favor of high-tech missions and international stakes.
Closest comparison: It’s like Mission: impossible 3 by way of The Rundown.
Setting: Espionage Action
Plot: Espionage Action
Tone: Espionage Action
This fourth entry in the Fast and the Furious saga seems like one of the weakest links at first blush, but there’s more to it than that. The story structure is some of the best in the series, unfolding the narrative with solid plot points and earned reveals. However, this is also the first movie of the bunch to start getting crazy with the over-the-top stunts and Mission: Impossible-level tech. It maintains the fun and flaws of the rest of the series, so fans will already know what to expect and everyone else won’t have gotten this far.
Closest comparison: It’s like the plot of The Third Man by way of Vanishing Point (1971).
Setting: Suave Crime
Plot: Undercover Detective
Tone: Action Thriller
This movie is passable in its presentation of war, muddled in its statements on hero worship, and goes on far too long to do justice to its subject matter. The battle scenes, acting, and score are all serviceable, but the writing and directing are noticeably lacking here, bringing nothing to the table. Its greatest crime is being a boring war movie, which is downright difficult to pull off.
Closest comparison: It’s like We Were Soldiers by way of Thank You For Smoking.
Setting: War
Plot: War / Drama
Tone: Drama
This second installment in the “Fast and the Furious” series is more colorful than the first one, and trades its down-to-earth friend-circle-based drama for buddy-cop shenanigans. It’s a bit more lighthearted fun than the first and correspondingly over-the-top, introducing boats to the mix. On the whole, it’s basically more of the same, but that’s not entirely a bad thing.
Closest comparison: It’s like Lethal Weapon, but with cars.
Setting: Underground Crime
Plot: Buddy Cop
Tone: Action
This is one of those movies that is made for its cool factor, prioritizing fun over narrative and all those petty concerns about the morality of grand theft. A lot of this movie revolves around buying into the central relationships, but the movie does a good job of making everything seem cool and larger than life so that the audience is just along for the ride. The surrogate family drama is couched in all of the gratuitous shots of cars and girls you would expect, landing on a time-tested foundation of style over substance.
Closest comparison: It’s like Point Break (1991), but with cars.
Setting: Underground Crime
Plot: Crime Drama
Tone: Action
