Fun nonsense even if it carries itself with an earnestness it doesn't warrant, and complexity in the action that doesn't add to the fun

Rating: Null/10 (4 November 2015)

As high-brow as I would like to think I am, I do enjoy a good blockbuster and for many, many years, the Fast & Furious franchise has been there offering up something for that habit. I won't pretend to remember all the films (this is not their role) but mostly I have enjoyed the last couple of the big dumb fun they provide. As a result I was looking forward to this film, while also knowing it would be nonsense. To be fair, the film mostly delivers on that remit, which is to say that it is overblown nonsense, but that it does provide a certain amount of fun with its world which crosses the sexuality of music videos with the action of video games â€“ which is a combination that fits well with the target audience.
This is not to say that Furious Seven gets it right throughout, because it doesn't. Even by the standards of the series, the action is overblown, and the defiance of gravity is extreme, and it doesn't always work. To really be enjoyable and to be 'fun' rather than 'daft' one does need to have some engagement in the action, but in this case the narrative devices and the action sequences are so overblown and lacking in anything to hook to, that it does rather make them overblown, but losing out in the fun a little bit. It is a balance that I think the last couple of films has done better. In addition to this the film carries itself with a bit too much earnestness. Okay, this is the seventh film, which makes this a great franchise with characters which we have in theory invested years in; so perhaps there is justification for some soapy elements to the narrative? Other than the (well handled) ending for Walker, the rest doesn't really work and just seems to take up time that could be better spent.
Actually that time could have been edited out, because as well as carried its longevity a bit too much, it also has a running time that doesn't totally suit it. The content screams disposable and slick, but the 2 hours + running time works against this; it is a film that could have done with fewer 'things' going on, and would have been leaner as a result. Having said that, all those things do bring lots of good cast members onboard, even if most of them don't have a great deal to do. Emmanuel, Hounsou, Russell, even Iggy Azalea â€“ lots of names and faces. It is even nice to see that the film gives Tony Jaa a couple of well shot scenes (not seen him in many of those recently). The regular cast are their usual selves. Walker is slick and fits this series well â€“ the montage at the end shows how much the films will miss him as he is by far the star of the films, regardless what Diesel thinks. Speaking of which, the big man is front and centre of this one, but he never looks natural in front of the camera â€“ his body is awkward and he doesn't look the match of the others in his scenes. Specifically Russell (taking his cheque but at least having fun) and Dwayne Johnson (other commitments but still is a good lead). Statham is a good villain but doesn't get as much use as I would have liked; the usual supporting cast are fun, with Gibson and Luda being quite funny, while Rodriguez at least gives the film one female character who is, well, a character, as opposed to a body part.
The seventh film in this franchise is just what you expect it to be in the broad sweep of things. It is not as fun as the previous films, and it doesn't carry the soapy material, all the baggage, and the longer running time, but when it is being big and dumb with a smile on its face, it is hard not to like.