‘F8’ ups action, dials down story

Law to play young Dumbledore in ‘Fantastic Beasts’ sequel

By Sandy Cohen

he Fast and the Furious’ hasn’t become a billiondollar global franchise because of its scintillating dialogue and high-minded drama. It’s all about the cars, the action, the international settings and the good-looking cast.

So don’t give too much thought to the story holes and convoluted plot in “The Fate of the Furious,” the eighth installment in the saga. If things don’t add up or characters killed off in previous films suddenly re-emerge, just go with it, knowing that it’s leading up to an epic final chase across a remote Russian ice field between sports cars, Humvees and a nuclear submarine.

Suspension of disbelief is required for these films. Remember in “Furious 7” when parachute-equipped cars fell from a cargo plane and the drivers were shown “steering” the airborne vehicles? Here, they speed across ice with unbelievable accuracy. One character even wakeboards through the tundra on a detached car door.

“F8” begins with Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) honeymooning in Havana. Charmed by the city’s car culture, they’re soon in a street race — a thrilling sequence with motorcycles swooping in to stop traffic as the drivers speed by. After finishing with his car on fire, Dom is approached by the mysterious Cipher (Charlize Theron), who blackmails him into betraying his colleagues and working for her.

Despite her ridiculous hairdo and having to utter such lines as “Your team’s about to go up against the only thing they can’t handle: You,” Theron is a great villain. She anchors the story with her gravitas by making Cipher a convincingly capable and determined foe.

Meanwhile, Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) taps Dom and his ace driving team to help recover a missing electromagnetic pulse weapon. The job brings them to Berlin, where Dom abandons his crew and links up with Cipher.

Hobbs ends up in jail, practically cellmates with Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), the villain from “Furious 7.” They’re set free by secret operative Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell), who wants the adversaries to work together to find Cipher and Dom.

Joined by franchise stalwarts Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), the crew heads to New York City, where some of the film’s most spectacular car action is set. One scene shows hundreds of driverless cars coming to life at the hands of a hacker. Vehicles go flying out of showrooms and crashing onto the streets.

Directed by F. Gary Gray (“Straight Outta Compton”), “F8” delivers the same big scope and quick pace of the previous “Fast” films, though he cuts together the fight sequences so quickly they’re hard to appreciate. The action satisfies, even if the lines veer past campy into full-on cheese territory and the story is hazier than the smoke from a broken tailpipe.

The cast and the cars are what carry this franchise. Johnson is eminently likable, Gibson and Bridges provide comic relief and Rodriguez is full of heart. Statham shines during a sequence where he navigates a deadly gun battle while toting a baby in a bassinet — especially sweet considering the actor is about to become a first-time father. Helen Mirren makes a charming, if odd, cameo. And Scott Eastwood joins the ensemble as Little Nobody, a cute but unnecessary character likely put in place because two more “Fast” films are planned.

It’s hard to imagine where “Fast” will go next. They’ve already incorporated all manner of motor vehicles, including a helicopter and a submarine. But the franchise has a proven formula, so long as they keep the tires screeching and the cast intact.

“The Fate of the Furious,” a Universal Pictures release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for “prolonged sequences of violence and destruction, suggestive content, and language.” Running time: 160 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

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Jude Law has been tapped to play young Dumbledore in the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” sequel.

David Yates is returning to direct and Eddie Redmayne will be back to star alongside Johnny Depp, who will play the villain Grindelwald.

Albus Dumbledore is one of the most iconic characters in J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. Richard Harris made the role famous in the first two “Harry Potter” pics. Michael Gambon later took over the part after Harris’ death in 2002.

The two-time Academy Award nominee will portray Dumbledore long before the wizard became the headmaster at Hogwarts and Potter’s mentor. Set decades before the original “Harry Potter” films and books, Dumbledore is still serving as the wizarding school’s transfiguration professor in “Fantastic Beasts 2.”

The studio had been considering every major British actor in the biz — from Christian Bale to Benedict Cumberbatch to Mark Strong to Harris’ son, “Mad Men” alum and “The Crown” actor Jared Harris — for the role.

Rowling, who made her screenwriting debut on “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” has also written the script for the second installment, which is set in an increasingly dark time for the wizarding world, where Newt Scamander and company have to decide on their allegiances.

“Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I’m looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with him,” Yates said. “I know he will brilliantly capture all the unexpected facets of Albus Dumbledore as J.K. Rowling reveals this very different time in his life.”

Toby Emmerich, president and chief content officer of Warner Bros Pictures, echoed his sentiment.

“As fans ourselves, we are thrilled to have Jude Law joining the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ cast, playing a character so universally adored,” Emmerich added. “Jude has been a member of the Warner Bros family for years and we’re excited to embark on this new adventure with him.”

Law will next be seen in “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” and currently stars in the HBO series “The Young Pope.”

The first movie in the planned five-part “Fantastic Beasts” series grossed more than $813 million at the box office.

The sequel, which begins production this summer, also reunites producers Rowling, David Heyman, Steve Kloves, and Lionel Wigram. Neil Blair, Rick Senat, and Danny Cohen are serving as executive producers.

“Fantastic Beasts 2” hits theaters on Nov 16, 2018. (Agencies)