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Seven the Car'd Way

Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew are making their 7th lap around the "Furious" franchise track. No longer a scrappy underground gang of streetcar racers, they have become a paramilitary team of heroes, who aren't so much ahead of the law as above it (particularly the law of physics).

Recruited by shadowy government agent Perry (Kurt Russell) who simply goes by "Mr. Nobody", their mission is to rescue Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), a computer hacker kidnapped by terrorist Mose Jakande (Djimon Hounsou). She's also the developer of "God's Eye," surveillance software that can track anyone, anywhere (doesn't the NSA already have this?). They will also need to defeat bad guy Deckard Evans (Jason Statham), the big brother of last movie's bad guy Luke Evans (Owen Shaw).

But these plot points are just blurry landmarks glimpsed from the window of a flying car - and "Furious 7" treats us to some creative ways of getting cars airborne, including parachuting out of planes and jumping between skyscrapers. These scenes would make James Bond blush. The carnage, which extends all the way to Azerbaijan and Abu Dhabi, is likewise raised to another level, as is the lack of consequences. By the movie's explosive end, much of L.A. looks like it was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Conveniently, other motorists (and the LAPD) seem to be mostly out of town.

Paul Walker tragically and ironically died in a car-crash before filming was finished. His role was completed by "digitally grafting" his face onto stand-ins (including his younger brothers) and with unused footage from earlier films. This technique is effective and allows for a moving farewell to both his character Brian O'Conner and the actor (to whom the film is dedicated).

Directed by newcomer James Wan, "Furious 7" crosses the finishing line at 2 hours and 20 minutes. That may not feel as fast as the others, but the movie is another fun ride for fans - or as Dom might refer to them - family.