One of my earliest childhood memories is me throwing a tantrum over a toy car that supposedly “I couldn’t live without.” I recall tugging my grandpa’s shirt as I whined about how my elder brother had a police car and I only had dolls; dolls which just sat there and creepily watched me (like Chucky). In the end, I somehow convinced my grandpa that a toy Celica was the best gift he could ever get me. I grinned so much my cheeks hurt. Mirth is what I was brimming with well up until I came across a toy jeep and threw another tantrum. Yes, I know, I was the best kid ever.
When I was first introduced to the fast and furious movie series, I thought it would be like any other action film with hyperbolic stunts. Boy was I wrong. Toretto and his crew of Letty, Mia, Brian, Pearce, Han, and Tej taught me about the concept of family; family is anyone who is always there for you, blood doesn’t determine family. Their bond spoke volumes, their sacrifices vivid. The film was not only enthralling but also addictive. I watched up to five in one day before declaring myself a die-hard fan. After that, I was always in the loop when a new one would be released.
After Fast 8, many fans wondered what could possibly be the continuation of the next big hit. Many speculated but no one really had a clue as to what to expect. We knew that Cipher had not plummeted to her death so there was definitely a fat chance that she would be the villain in the next movie. Then Morgan left to write Hobbs and Shaw and the fans started to worry.
Daniel Casey, however, took the mantle in May 2018 and began writing the screenplay for Fast 9. Soon we got a release date, April 2020, and then it got pushed to May 22nd instead. It might seem a bit far given the anticipation but the question is, is it worth the wait?
Well of course yes! You see Fast 9 has come back with bullets blazing and fireworks exploding. The stunts are insane (they have magnetic planes and cars attached with rocket engines) and the twists are simply magnificent (Cipher is back with a personal vendetta). Did I mention the premise of the story is that Toretto’s brother, Jakob (played by John Cena), is aiding Cipher to exert her vengeance on Toretto? Or that his role is that of a skilled thief, assassin and driver? Well, I don’t know about you, but that is one brawl I am craving to watch.
Oh and guess who made a comeback? Mia and Han! Mia vanished soon after the character playing the role of her husband, Brian (Paul Walker), died tragically. She made an appearance one last time when Fast 7 was made as a tribute to Paul Walker. Well, she is back and she looks ready to set the gear to number five and step on that pedal. Girl can drive! Now the man we mourned for is also back and by the looks of it, he is still eating his ‘hello panda’ chocolates! We simply can’t wait for him to resuscitate drifting. To top it all off, there is a surprise cast (drum rolls), Cardi B. I am secretly hoping that apart from possessing mad rapping skills, she can stun us with her driving skills.
All in all, the story is intriguing, the stunts berserk, the cars eye candy and the cast zealous. The la Familia (including baby Brian) is about to be tested again and this time Toretto is up against his own blood. Well, what are you waiting for? Go watch the trailer and confirm how awesome Fast 9 is!
