Film review: Fast & Furious 7
The death of Paul Walker in November 2013 cast a pall over the future of the lucrative Fast & Furious franchise, which at that point was already halfway into production on its seventh installment.
Walker, the blond-haired, blue-eyed hunk that was one-half dreamboat, one-half boy next door, had played a central role in five of the first six films, along with partner in crime Vin Diesel, and it was unclear how the production could continue despite his untimely departure.
Fortunately for the viewers, and for the pockets of distribution company Universal Pictures, we live in an era of special effects for which an actor’s absence is no longer an insurmountable obstacle, and so the effects artists went to work to conjure a mostly performance out of Walker that would not have appeared as seamless even just a few years ago.
There are a few hiccups along the way, but for the most part the film is as enjoyable as any of its predecessors, even as it edges a little too close to James Bond excess, and the final montage honoring Walker will tug at the heartstrings of anyone with a pulse.
To read the full review, visit The Prague Post. Fast & Furious 7 is currently on wide release in Bulgaria.
(Still of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in Furious 7. © 2014 – Universal Pictures)