Won't Win New Converts But Fans Will Love It

Rating: 6/10 (4 April 2015)

This isn't a franchise to appeal to me . I think I gave up after the third film and the series does seem like a teen version of TOP GEAR with added silicone and steroids all shot in an MTV style that makes Michael Bay seem almost like Bela Tarr in comparison . So to be blunt I watched FURIOUS 7 just to see what the fuss was about and perhaps morbidly to see a film whose lead character is played by an actor who sadly died mid way through production
To be fair it plays out very much as I expected for the first third . Car chases . explosions , pumping music playing the action , speed ramping , fisty-cuffs and karate kicks , constant slow motion every time the camera lingers on a semi-clad beauty and of course Jason Staham playing Jason Statham who looks like Daniel Day Lewis compared to Vin Diesel . What I have noticed in the gap between this and the last one I watched is how different this latest one feels from the early entries . From what I remember the original had a simple plot of a cop going undercover to break a gang of racers who've turned the streets of Los Angeles in to their own personal race track . It's not a brilliant premise for a film but it is a fairly sensible one . In spirit this one feels more like it belongs in an alternative universe similar to THE EXPENDABLES franchise or even James Bond . The action scenes are over blown and totally , totally ridiculous but to be fair I wasn't exactly bored by any of this and the cinema audience who were no doubt hard core fans of the films seemed to greatly enjoy it laughing out loud at the one liners so it's not a total dead loss and there is a meta-fictional feel that addresses towards the end that takes note that if the series continues it'll be without one of its mainstay characters played by Paul Walker
In summary I was slightly surprised with FURIOUS 7 but much of my surprise is probably down to the fact I haven't watched most of the other movies and failed to see how the franchise evolved in to something different from its genesis . It probably won't win any new converts to its cause and I'm in no hurray to visit the films I missed but for those of you who enjoyed THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS and stuck with the series you'll love this one