Fast X — the Fast and Furious finale promises star power, fist-fights and traffic violations

The end is nigh for Fast and Furious. The new instalment of the all-conquering series, Fast X, is also the last. Well, almost. In fact, it is the first half of a two-part finale. The bell does not toll quite yet for Vin Diesel’s gearhead patriarch Dominic Toretto. Still, while the extended farewell is pure studio chicanery, it is hard to imagine a fan unsated by a film this stuffed with turbo accelerations, fist-fighting stunt doubles and decorative star names. Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren are among returning veterans, joined by new kids including Brie Larson and Jason Momoa. Clearly, the love of the material is a powerful incentive for all manner of premium acting talent.

But there is also, just perhaps, a small residual thrill from appearing in a Hollywood franchise of rare authentic global appeal. Midway through, director Louis Leterrier offers a précis of the whole saga to date. The sequence is seemingly aimed at series latecomers, but the real point is to underline the wistful mood. How many traffic violations have brought us here? How often has Diesel invoked the single, sacred word: family? Of course, once again that means Dom’s cross-cultural crew of kindly Robin Hoods. But it also signifies his literal bloodline, menaced by Momoa’s panto-villainous Brazilian crime-lord. (His air of retro camp may raise eyebrows.)

Leterrier deals confidently with the cameos and pyrotechnics, ushering the story through a green-screen world tour (Naples, Spitalfields, Antarctica). As ever, the tone is pro-wrestling adjacent. John Cena of that sport is another co-star. (So far, no one has yet made a movie detailing Diesel’s off-camera estrangement from sometime colleague Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Surely Aaron Sorkin must be working on the script?) 

The fun can be infectious, with just enough knowing edge. A vast spherical bomb rolls down a Roman hill, like a scene from a lost silent classic. Later, the single-syllable dialogue is punctuated by a warning that, should plans go sideways, “the fallout could be existential.” Will the ghost of Sartre finally nab a Lamborghini? Find out next time, one last time.

★★★☆☆

In cinemas from May 19