Fun, escapist movie

Rating: 8/10 (12 April 2015)

Have you seen the other 6 FAST & FURIOUS movies? At the very least have you seen Furious 5 & 6? If so, and you liked them, then you're going to like this film. If you did not, then you probably aren't reading this review, so it doesn't really matter.
I really enjoy these movies. They have developed a rhythm that is fun to watch. The car scenes are...well...fast and furious, while the action and mayhem is over-the-top "cartoony" fun - where everyone walks away with maybe a cut and a scrape (that look really cool), unless the plot calls for a broken bone or - heaven forbid - a death.
But what drives these movies are the performance - and camaraderie - of our core group of heroes. It is this sense of "family" that really creates a place where you want to spend time with this group of people. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Tyrese Gibson and Michelle Rodriguez know what kind of movie they are in and look like they had fun making it. Add to this group, old pros Jason Statham and Kurt Russell (!) and the acting and characters are well taken care of.
I have to admit that I was distracted while watching this film with the knowledge that star Paul Walker passed away in a car accident in the middle of filming this movie. I know they had to "digitally insert" him in a few scenes and had his brother be a body double throughout. Could I tell when they did that? I think so, but don't know for sure. It is a sad thing and, for me, that added a melancholy shade to the whole proceedings. To give the filmmakers credit, I thought they were smart on how they wrote his character out of what are sure to be future installments of this wildly popular, cash cow, money-making franchise.
Check your brain at the door and escape for 2 hours into the world of Furious 7, you'll be glad you did.
8 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank (of Marquis)