The Fate of the Furious

Built around muscle cars, drag racing, and the importance of family, this eighth installment of the long-running, high-speed action series brings back Vin Diesel as gruff, monosyllabic Dominic Toretto for more spectacular, globe-spanning vehicular destruction. In Havana, Dom and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) interrupt their honeymoon so that he can race against the Cuban who tried to heist his cousin's jalopy. Tinkering with the old car, Dom strips down the engine and installs a dangerous nitrous oxide canister. Naturally, there's a sociopathic supervillain—an icy hacker known as Cipher (Charlize Theron)—who wants Dom to do a job for her. When he hesitates, she shows him something on her cellphone that changes his mind. On a mission with lawman Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell), and Dom's gang (Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel) to retrieve a powerful EMP device, Dom himself goes rogue. Also on hand are new recruit Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), who was responsible for the death of an original team member; by-the-books Eric Reisner (Scott Eastwood, resembling his clench-jawed father); and mysterious Magdalene (Helen Mirren). Directed by F. Gary Gray, this slick yet shallow entry in the phenomenally successful franchise is a strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director F. Gary Gray, an “All About the Stunts” featurette (19 min.), and extended fight scenes (5 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are “In the Family” behind-the-scenes featurettes (22 min. total), production segments on “Car Culture” (21 min.) and “The Cuban Spirit” (8 min.), and bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for this high-octane franchise entry.] (S. Granger)