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F9 4K UHD Review

“F9” is an over-the-top cartoon.

In the ninth installment of the action saga about family, Dom’s past comes back to haunt him. While off raising a son with Letty, he is called back into action by his “family” (Roman, Tej and Ramsey) after Mr. Nobody’s plane was attacked by a group that involves Dom’s brother Jakob (whom he has essentially disowned). Upon investigating, they discover dangerous hacking devices known as Ares which are also sought by Jakob and his villainous associates (no spoilers here). Ares itself is also linked to a girl named Elle who is also connected to someone that was thought to be dead. Yes, I am being purposefully vague here. In order to stop Jakob AND Ares from being activated, Dom and company need more help from the likes of Mia, Sean, Twinkie, Earl, among others.

I’ve generally been a fan of the ever evolving and fascinating Fast and Furious action film franchise, but I’m sad to say that “F9” is down there with “2 Fast 2 Furious” as the weakest entry. If you like your Fast movies to be big, dumb, and loud you might be all in on this one. For me though, the more outlandish it gets the more I lose interest. Between the magnetic cars and the space travel, I found myself shaking my head to the point of possibly having some slight neck damage. “F9” goes beyond jumping the shark and I’m not sure how the series can recover from this sequel.

Part of the problem with “F9” is that the movie greatly misses the presence of Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson. Not only did they bring so much to the series with their characters and comedy, but they had become such an integral part of the franchise. Without them, we are forced to have this Vin Diesel egofest that is “F9” complete with agonizingly long flashback sequences. We also have to endure more Tyrese as Roman who is still the most obnoxious character. Not even the inclusion of the ‘Tokyo Drift’ characters helps here as they have somehow become cartoon characters themselves. Moreover, the inclusion of John Cena adds nothing to the series. The wrestler turned actor has been extremely hit-and-miss in his Hollywood outings and he’s rather bland here as Jakob.

Now, for those wondering about the return of Han, I don’t want to spoil too much. What I will say is that it was a missed opportunity. The explanation we got was much ado about nothing. Plus, his character does not have enough to do here. Writer/director Justin Lin and co-writer Daniel Casey really dropped the ball here. Maybe Chris Morgan should have written this one after all.

It seems strange to say but the best part of the movie is probably the cameo by Helen Mirren as Magdalene Shaw. I don’t think it’s absurd to say that the “Hobbs and Shaw” offshoot is now infinitely more appealing than the Fast franchise right now and that’s a shame.

Note: The director’s cut and the theatrical cut are included on this set.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? Viewers can expect a pristine print.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? Simply put, this track is as good as it gets for a 4K disc. The action will blow you away.

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* A 3 ½ minute gag reel that is more entertaining than the movie.
* “F9: All In”- A 9 part extra that covers the characters, villains, female characters, “Tokyo Drift” reunion, new characters, Helen Mirren, action sequences and more. Interviews, film clips, and set footage are included.
* “Practically Fast”- Practical car action is the focus of this extra.
* “Shifting Priorities”- An extra about Dom’s fatherhood and past.
* “Justice For Han”- An extra about the fan favorite character’s return to the franchise.
* “A Day On Set With Justin Lin”- A sort of video diary with the director.
* “John Cena: Supercar Superfan”- John Cena takes viewers on a tour of cars.
* Commentary by Justin Lin.

September 18, 2021 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Dom, F9, F9 4K Uhd Review, Fast 9, Fast and Furious 9, Fast and Furious Series, Han, John Cena, Tyrese, Vin Diesel