Hype and dollars notwithstanding, not as good as Fast Five

Rating: 4/10 (30 April 2015)

The seventh instalment in the explosive racing turned heist franchise, which has surprisingly seen more mileage than expected, is finally upon us, a year later than scheduled due to the untimely demise of its lead protagonist, Paul Walker. The film is ultimately a celebration of his memory and his contribution to the long running series, which he launched in 2001.
Following their defeat of Owen Shaw and his team, the crew are able to enjoy their reprieve and lead domesticated lives. However, unbeknownst to them, they are now the subject of a crusade led by Shaw's sibling, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), who is seeking retribution for his brother.
Given the series' transition from racing to all out vehicular warfare, it is imperative that the action sequences are executed well. Therein lies the film's predominant success. If you thought the plane sequence on the longest runway known to man was a stretch, Furious 7 requires an even greater suspension of disbelief, what with airborne cars leaping across building, off cliffs and from an active aircraft as well.
In going overboard with the action, the story is considerably compromised in the process. A paper thin narrative is accompanied by the lack of palpable consequences for the principal characters. Somehow, they always manage to recover from every collision and accident unscathed, which makes proceedings credulous and less realistic. Moreover, the primary cast's vibrant chemistry and exotic locales spanning several countries is a prominent feature as ever. Sadly, Jason Statham is relegated to being a generic nemesis and lacks his customary swagger. The latest chapter also adds new blood in the form of veteran thespian Kurt Russell, Thai action star Tony Jaa, UFC athlete Ronda Rousey and Game of Thrones' Nathalie Emmanuel, all of which feature in glorified cameos.
The relentless flurry of action also includes several epic confrontations between certain characters. While the muscle men all lock horns, the pick of the bunch is a brutal altercation between two women, namely Michelle Rodriguez and the aforementioned Rousey. In a testosterone fuelled movie, it is a pleasant surprise that the latter shines through when afforded a larger role. All of the brawls are extremely well choreographed.
In a franchise which has always emphasized the significance of family and brotherhood, the final tribute to Paul Walker is particularly poignant. An emotional send-off is matched by a few resonating dialogues, representing a beautiful farewell to the actor.
Slick and stylish but devoid of much substance, the series is showing no signs of slowing down. While it won't be the same without Paul Walker, with three more sequels in the pipeline, the sky's the limit.