Barcelona’s Basílica de la Sagrada Família shouldn’t really exist, having faced endless problems throughout its nearly 150-year construction. Key figures passed away, funds dried up, the original Montjuïc sandstone ran out, and it had to be pieced together from various other materials. At several points, construction halted as architects waited for the necessary technology to be developed.
I mention this because—and stop me if this comparison seems too grand—Fast X, the latest film in the Fast and Furious franchise, is the cinematic equivalent of the Sagrada Família.
That doesn’t mean I like it, because I don’t. But I’ve developed an unhealthy fascination with it, to the point where it’s easily the film I’ve watched most over the past couple of years. Whenever I have a spare moment, I inevitably end up watching it. Isn’t that the definition of a feel-good movie?
My fascination might come from not having seen many of the other Fast and Furious films. I saw the first one with the Rock, the one with the impossibly long runway, and Hobbs and Shaw, where the Rock and Jason Statham take turns punching Idris Elba’s robotic supervillain. This means I came to Fast X without the proper context, and my reaction is the same as anyone seeing the Sagrada Família in its finished form: how on earth did this happen?
Moment to moment, Fast X is incredible. A giant spherical nuclear bomb rolls through Rome, a car turns into a cannon, there’s a missile attack on a bridge, a dam explodes, and Charlize Theron takes down about 400 bad guys at once. Jason Momoa plays the villain, aiming for a Joker-like persona but landing somewhere between his characters in Game of Thrones and a Minecraft movie.
But if you held a gun to my head, I couldn’t tell you what the film is actually about. This is the tenth installment, and it brings back every character from the previous films. Characters who were once seen as major threats—Theron, Statham, John Cena—are now best friends with Vin Diesel and the crew.
Ludacris is back, along with Scott Eastwood, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Paul Walker in flashbacks. The Rock briefly reprises his role, as does Helen Mirren. Gal Gadot even appears at the end, smiling as if she’s in an episode of Dad’s Army. On top of this overload of existing lore, they add Brie Larson, Alan Ritchson, Pete Davidson, and Rita Moreno in cameos that range from pointless to mildly amusing.
Special mention goes to the film’s final 15 minutes, which feel like what would happen if you fed a tantrum-throwing three-year-old a binful of Haribo and let them run Universal Pictures. Vin Diesel drops out of a plane during a car chase, blows up helicopters trying to harpoon his car, and while cars spin out at impossible speeds, his eight-year-old son leaps through the air and lands perfectly in the passenger seat. Then, in one of the most confusing CGI sequences ever filmed—involving his son, his biceps, a crucifix, and a journey through a car’s engine—Diesel somehow outruns an exploding dam. And then the dam explodes anyway, leaving them presumably dead.
To be clear, on an intellectual level,On a personal level, I really dislike this. It’s overcrowded and disjointed, with strange direction and weak acting. It’s just a flood of meaningless color and noise that doesn’t come together well. The only difference between Fast X and that video where all the fireworks go off at once is that Fast X is 559 times longer. But if I have a few free hours tonight, you can be sure I’ll still watch it.
Like the Sagrada Família Basilica, the Fast and Furious series is still unfinished. A final movie is planned for 2027, and everything we know so far hints that it will mostly ignore what happened in Fast X. I can’t express how much I hope that’s true. It’s the only way the world’s silliest franchise could become even more ridiculous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about having an unhealthy obsession with Fast X as a comfort film with clear and direct answers
General Beginner Questions
1 What do you mean by a comfort film
A comfort film is a movie you return to again and again because it makes you feel safe happy and relaxed much like a favorite blanket or a homecooked meal
2 Why would Fast X be a comfort film Its so overthetop
Exactly The sheer absurdity predictable themes of family and highoctane action provide a mental escape You dont have to think too hard you can just enjoy the ridiculous ride
3 Isnt it weird to be obsessed with a movie that critics panned
Not at all A personal comfort film isnt about critical acclaim Its about the specific feelings and memories it evokes for you regardless of its Rotten Tomatoes score
4 How is this an unhealthy obsession
It becomes unhealthy if it starts to interfere with your daily lifelike skipping work to watch it spending money you dont have on merchandise or straining relationships because youd rather watch the movie than socialize
Deeper Dive Benefits
5 What are the actual benefits of having a comfort film like this
The main benefits are stress relief and emotional regulation Knowing every beat of the movie can be incredibly calming It provides a reliable source of entertainment and a temporary escape from realworld anxieties
6 Which specific scenes in Fast X are the most comforting
Common answers include the opening flashback with young Dom any scene where the whole family is together in the garage or the utterly impossible car chase through Rome These scenes reinforce the core simple themes
7 Does this mean I have to like the entire Fast Furious franchise
No not at all You can have a specific obsessive love for Fast X without being a superfan of the other movies Each film has its own vibe
Common Problems Social Aspects
8 My friends make fun of me for loving this movie How do I handle that
Embrace it You can laugh along with them Say something like I know its ridiculous but thats why I love it A true
