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Fast X
Movie

Fast X

2023 • Action, Adventure, Crime

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

Dom Toretto and his family are targeted by the vengeful son of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes.

Overall Series Review

Fast X continues the franchise's trajectory of increasingly ludicrous action sequences while maintaining its core focus on the Toretto 'family' as an absolute good. The plot revolves around a villain's deeply personal revenge against Dom by targeting his wife and young son, which grounds the film in highly traditional themes of parental protection and legacy. The film features a massive and diverse ensemble cast, but character conflict centers on individual merit, loyalty, and competence rather than immutable characteristics. The gender dynamics feature several extremely capable female action leads, including a new 'girl boss' agent, but these roles exist alongside the highly traditional, protective, and paternal masculinity of the main hero. The most notable element is the primary antagonist, Dante Reyes, who is intentionally presented with flamboyant, campy, and androgynous characteristics that heavily 'queer-code' the ultimate evil of the story. The narrative frequently invokes concepts of 'faith' and 'sacrifice,' with a major action set piece involving the villain attacking the Vatican, which the hero actively defends, positioning the hero's values as strongly antithetical to civilizational self-hatred.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The film features a naturally diverse and multi-ethnic cast, which has been a consistent characteristic of the franchise for years. The narrative focuses entirely on personal vengeance, loyalty, and skill, without lecturing on identity, privilege, or systemic oppression. Character value is based on their utility to the family's mission.

Oikophobia1/10

The film's entire thesis is the unwavering defense of family, home, and personal legacy, which aligns with 'Gratitude & Chesterton’s Fence.' The main villain's destructive plot includes attacking the Vatican, a key Western institution, which the hero works to save. The primary emotional driver is the hero's love for his home and son.

Feminism4/10

Strong female characters, including Letty and a new Agency operative, are instantly portrayed as highly competent and formidable action heroes, fitting the 'Girl Boss' archetype. However, this trope is balanced by the central importance of Dom and Letty's marriage and their shared role as protective parents to their son, Little B., validating the traditional family unit.

LGBTQ+6/10

The main villain, Dante Reyes, is explicitly portrayed with a campy, flamboyant, androgynous presentation, making him a heavily 'queer-coded' enemy. This centers a non-traditional sexual/gender presentation in a position of sadistic evil. While the narrative does not include any overt pro-sexual ideology lectures, the prominent use of this archetype for the antagonist elevates the score.

Anti-Theism2/10

The hero, Dom Toretto, repeatedly speaks about the power of 'faith' as a core value alongside 'family.' The villain's master plan involves an attempt to destroy the Vatican, a significant religious landmark, which directly frames the anti-theistic action as part of the ultimate evil. The hero's actions are consistently aligned with a higher moral law of protecting the innocent.