Movie Review: “F9: The Fast Saga” (2021)

For what it’s worth: a compelling case for a return to theaters.

One summer afternoon, I was out with my brother, my aunt, & her partner in Pompano Beach, Florida. The year was 2001: I was six, and my brother was 11. The four of us were heading to the towering Muvico theater to see “The Fast & The Furious.” Most people growing up had the films of Arnold Schwarzenegger & Sylvester Stallone growing up. My action heroes growing up were Vin Diesel and Jason Statham. (Who is sadly not in this film) The 2001 film about a crew of street racers stealing bootlegged DVD players was my first foray into me watching almost every Vin Diesel action film growing up. It also spawned a financially successful brand that wouldn’t kick into high gear until 2011 with “Fast Five.”

The Fast & Furious franchise has evolved from being “Point Break” with street racing to being a heist film to being a spy film. So how does F9 stack up to the rest of the franchise? Let’s find out.

“Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) is living the quiet life off the grid with Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and his son, but they know that danger always lurks just over the peaceful horizon. This time, that threat forces Dom to confront his past sins to save those he loves most. His crew soon comes together to stop a world-shattering plot by…