F9: The Fast Saga - 2/5

This movie is a tired retread of worn-out over-the-top melodrama. The action scenes are mindless fun, but the story is sub-par, even compared to other entries in the series. Surprisingly, driving a car to space is not the most unrealistic thing that happens in this movie, and the script goes out of its way to justify the logistics of it to the audience. What was more distracting to the story was the comic relief character’s meta commentary through-line about how none of the main characters in this franchise ever seem to get seriously injured.

Closest comparison: It’s the Fast and the Furious where they drive a car to space.

Setting: Action
Plot: Action
Tone: Action

The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift - 3/5

This movie received very low expectations after the previous installment, but it handily surpasses them by flipping the tropes on their heads. The cocky protagonist could have been obnoxious, except that the main narrative is about him growing out of his character deficiencies. The races could have been simple retreads of old ground, but instead they use the titular drifting to make some of the most interesting courses in the entire franchise. It’s still got the contrived interactions and setpiece moments and schoolboy drama at its core, but run-of-the-mill sequel this is not.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Fast and the Furious by way of Black Rain.

Setting: Yakuza Crime
Plot: Coming of Age
Tone: Cool Action