I have never seen a single entry in the Fast and Furious franchise. But Cannes Film Festival's special midnight screening and reunion allowed me to expand my cinematic horizons. While I'm not sure that missing out on Universal's street racing series until now necessarily threatened my status as a film critic, I'm far from a movie snob and committed to trying any movie. And I've certainly always been aware of the franchise in the 25 years since it launched, cementing Vin Diesel's status as a Hollywood heavyweight, before taking on a more sombre weight following co-star Paul Walker's death in a car crash aged just 40 in 2013 during Furious 7's production. They've pumped out 11 films so far – including spin-off Hobbs & Shaw – and attracted the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Kurt Russell, Jason Statham and even Dame Helen Mirren to join the Fast 'family', so they must be doing something right.
On Tuesday night (well, technically, the early hours of Wednesday morning), I was going to finally find out if I agreed, and in the presence of Diesel himself, alongside longtime Fast colleagues Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster, as well as Walker's daughter Meadow, franchise actor Tyrese Gibson, producer Neal H. Moritz and Universal Pictures' chairwoman Dame Donna Langley. They all stepped in to provide added major Hollywood wattage for a Cannes edition that was otherwise free of major US studio involvement, without a blockbuster to premiere like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning or Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in previous years.
A not very Fast and Furious red carpet
Naturally held in the biggest cinema on the Croisette, the Grand Théâtre Lumière with its 2,309 seats, this special screening of The Fast and the Furious was given all the bells and whistles of a normal Cannes world premiere, with its wall of photographers either side of the famous red-carpeted stairs, and film festival president Iris Knobloch and director Thierry Frémaux waiting at the top to personally welcome the stars. You'll have heard of the strict dress code for Cannes premieres, but this was one occasion where I did, in fact, walk that carpet in trainers as the event had not been given a formal dress code.
With a billed start time of 11.45pm and a queue that didn't budge for a very long time after I joined it at 11.15pm, I actually reached the carpet at the same time as Diesel (in a jacket emblazoned with 'Fast Forever' on the back) – five minutes after it was already supposed to have started. However, while regular guests were being expertly herded up the stairs in record time – and reminded no selfies on the carpet are allowed – Diesel was in no rush, spending a good chunk of time posing with fans lined along the street at the bottom of the carpet before he even came under the carpet's canopy. When he finally graced the carpet proper, there were plenty of hugs between him, Rodriguez and Brewster, with the two women even rubbing his back for comfort at one point where he leant on a barrier, appearing overcome in the moment. But if that was the case, he bounced back very quickly as the group photos continued, winking, pulling faces, giving multiple thumbs up and waving at people he spotted.
Vin Diesel's emotional speech
At 12:19am, once all other guests were in their seats waiting, there was even a laugh as Frémaux announced via the carpet's loudspeaker system, sounding slightly exasperated: 'Vin, we are waiting for you on the stage please, come on.' The actor was finally announced in the auditorium at 12:25am, just 40 minutes late, and he enthusiastically kept the crowd's clapping going for several moments before Frémaux offered him the microphone 'as you normally have a lot to say'. And while I knew anything he might utter would likely be entertaining – 'f**k the film, I'm only here once in my whole life', as he got warmed up – I can't say my heart didn't sink knowing how (even) late(r) I would be going to bed. He also paid tribute to Meadow for 'representing the brotherhood' that Diesel and her late father shared making the movies together. 'I'm gonna go and shed a tear real quick,' he added, before rallying to continue: 'The only reason we're making a finale to Fast for 2028 is because of each and every one of you that has given us your hearts and your loyalty, each and every one of you that has felt like you're part of our family. You make us have to continue, you make us want to make you all proud.' And the crowd lapped this up as Rodriguez and Brewster held Meadow tight, resting their heads on each other – before the film finally began at 12.35am.
My verdict on the movie
Immediately, I was pelted headfirst back into the noughties thanks to the cargo of TV-DVD combos one lorry is carrying in the opening – only to then be genuinely impressed by the stunt driver swerving a car underneath this truck at high speed. Every time a major character appeared on screen, starting with Walker's undercover cop Brian O'Conner, they were met with a huge cheer. The Fast and the Furious certainly plunges straight into the action, but also pretty heavily handedly deals with the romance aspects – a lot of tiresome 'don't you look at Mia that way' posturing from Diesel's Dominic Toretto and the gang towards Brian. I probably wouldn't have clocked that as a kid, but it heaved a sigh out of me as an adult watching it 25 years later.
The Fast and Furious Franchise: The Fast and the Furious (2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Fast & Furious (2009), Fast Five (2011), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Furious 7 (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), F9 (2021), Fast X (2023). I was at least glad that even in 2001 Brian knew it wasn't okay for Brewster's Mia to do both the cooking and the washing up though.
It was also fascinating to watch a film and realise it was almost constantly soundtracked by thumping music or shouting over revving engines, with quiet moments extremely sparse. I guess it's fitting for a franchise built around cars that The Fast and the Furious is always cranked up to somewhere between eight and 11. The film isn't going to win any awards for depth or dialogue – it's seriously unsubtle, testosterone-fuelled and kind of schlocky in places. But, I can't say I didn't understand how its frenetic energy, outlaw characters and cool cars didn't appeal to every youngster watching it in 2001 – and were enough to build a long-running franchise, which still isn't over with a final film and TV show in development, off the back of its powerful nostalgia. But if I watch another Fast and Furious movie, I won't be looking to repeat the brutal 2.20am finish.
