One has to ask the question, if this tenth ‘Fast and the Furious’ film, titled “Fast X,” has indeed had its budget skyrocket to $340 million, and The Wrap seems to indicate that it has, then what kind of profit will it make? This isn’t even counting the marketing costs that will come in promoting the damn thing.
“F9” had a “modest” budget of $200 million, but did manage to make billions worldwide. So, I presume Universal isn’t too worried. Then again, this is film number 10, at some point this series will whimper out, maybe not with this film, but one can only hope.
The $340 million budget stems from an increase in salary for Vin Diesel and the rest of the cast, production costs caused by global inflation and charges for COVID-19 testing requirements. With all that in mind, that still can’t possibly equate to $340 million. How many Lamborghinis have they managed to demolish for this film?
Yes, the tenth instalment will be a very popular movie for the low-expectations movie crowd and they tend to show up in droves to watch these movies. The lures of this never-ending franchise has always been the fast cars, but “The French Connection,” “Death Proof,” “Drive,” “Bullit,” “Ronin,” or even “Baby Driver” this is not.
Vin Diesel and company are back for “Fast X” and I honestly couldn’t care less about it. There will be big guns, big muscles, big cars and, really, just big everything because this is America and it’s go big or go home. This ninth chapter will also, I’m just guessing here, end with a big family barbecue where the whole cast is gathered together as the camera slowly rises to the clouds.
I’ve, painstakingly, seen the nine previous films and only moderately liked 2011’s “Fast Five,” the rest were as bland, overstylized and empty as Vin Diesel’s acting.