I’m honestly surprised that it took the Fast & Furious franchise this long to do some kind of spin-off. Getting dangerously close to Sci-Fi/Superhero territory with this franchise’s first cybernetic supervillain (played very well by Idris Elba), this film makes it very clear from the get-go that it’s not intended to be taken too seriously. As a conduit in order to see some creative over-the-top action, this film more than gets the job done. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham both have great chemistry, and Vanessa Kirby does great work, and also has the opportunity to show that she too is capable to being a compelling action lead. It’s exciting, it’s funny, and it’s even subtly subversive, which more than makes up for some of it’s weird pacing issues early on. Whether you’re a long-time fan of this franchise, or a newcomer who’s never seen a Fast & Furious film before, this brainless, testosterone-laced, entertaining thrill ride is extremely entertaining and enjoyable.

Rating: 4/5