A fun but ridiculous popcorn flick.

Rating: 7/10 (11 April 2015)

Furious 7 is all about crazy action and ridiculous stunts. Having seen both Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6, I went into this movie a little bit prepared; and it definitely payed off.
This is one of those movies where it would benefit if the viewer saw the previous installments in the franchise. It has a lot of connections especially to the sixth. That being said, I think after the first part of the movie one can definitely catch up on what's going on. The plot was easy enough to understand although some of it was a little complicated. The story is also easy to understand, but there are moments that aren't fleshed out and kind of leave the viewer hanging. Not to mention some plot holes here and there.
This time around, the franchise has a new director: James Wan. He brings a new feel to it for sure, but it's a nice change and Wan does a good job handling such a huge movie.
Furious 7 is one of those movies that has a ton of characters; and in this installment, there are more than ever before. The actors portraying the old roles and the new, do a decent job doing what they're here to do.
Brian Tyler does an excellent job with the score for this movie. It's an electrifying mix of electronic synths and strings.
Now we get to probably the biggest part of this movie: the action. There is a ton of it, but if you're used to the Fast & Furious franchise, this should come as no surprise. What should also not come as a surprise, is that a lot of the action is super ridiculous and over the top. Yet in this movie, the over the top action is just pure fun. James Wan brings a very unique style to the action, as he uses different cinematography methods and different action techniques. The action might be unrealistic, but it is extremely entertaining to watch.
Not being a lifelong fan of Paul Walker, I have come to appreciate in the last three F&F movies how great an actor he was. He was a highlight in this movie for sure and he was given a great send off at the end. He will be missed.
In the end, Furious 7 had a surprisingly good plot and strong story; albeit some plot holes here and there. Direction was different but still great, the music was fun, and the cinematography was unique. The action was crazy and ridiculous, but super fun. Furious 7 wasn't a brainy, thought-provoking movie, but it sure was an entertaining ride.
RIP Paul Walker.