the fast and the furios 9

The first reviews of the latest installment in the Fast and Furious franchise, Fast and Furious 9, are out. The critics’ take on F9 are mixed, tilting more towards the negative side so far. Directed by Justin Lin, the actioner stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren and John Cena, among others. Variety’s critic Owen Gleiberman called Fast and Furious 9 a ‘less furious sequel’ in the action series. “Sometimes, when you least expect it, a successful franchise will essentially morph into a different series. Over time, the Mission: Impossible films became Bond films. The Fast and Furious films have become Mission: Impossible films. But F9 isn’t constructed around an exciting mission. It’s built around Vin Diesel and John Cena playing out the angst from the Toretto brothers’ past. The family plot ‘works’ (even as you’re aware of how thinly written Cena’s character is), but it’s not enough of an anchor; it’s more like an excuse. This series didn’t need more ‘heart.’ It needed everyone onscreen to get up to speed,” read a section of the review