That would at least offer some explanation as to why so much of the film is dedicated to another overwrought plot involving Diesel’s motorsport enthusiast Dominic Toretto’s relationship with Michelle Rodriguez’s laughless Letty. The clumsy melodrama of these scenes makes you want to grind your teeth. Surely even the series’ most dedicated fans would concede that the relationship drama between the two (which has involved death, resurrection and memory loss, and that’s before this film) finished serving its purpose some time ago. The story between the two surely means more to the team behind the film than it does to their audience. The crew must track down Dom and find out why he betrayed them. The eighth Fast/Furious movie continues the trend that started with the fifth film, the franchise high point Fast Five, of each movie being a weird mishmash of elaborate plotting, big characters, melodrama, comedy, tragedy and flying cars with no respect for the laws of physics. They’re all these different elements shunted together, a sort of Frankenstein’s blockbuster.  As with the other Fast/Furious films, the supporting cast is bulging, both with big names and big muscles. Tyrese and Ludacris’ continue to bicker back and forth to great effect. Kurt Russell looks to be enjoying his time on the film and swaggers across screen, lifting the film up every time that he does.   Most likely, you’ll come out of Fast & Furious 8 talking about Helen Mirren’s brilliant performance. In a film where around a car explodes roughly every three minutes, Mirren’s hilarious turn is easily the most memorable part.  This is the first Fast and Furious film since Mad Max: Fury Road, and it just doesn’t feel like this cuts it after that film. The action sequences in Fast & Furious 8 are still thrilling times, but they feel a bit samey. It’s when the film is focusing on comedy that it really thrives.  At times it even gets sombre or quite nasty, which it is towards the end of the second act, you question why they’ve dragged the film off into such murky territory.  Still, if the car chases are a bit jittery at times, there’s something to be said for a film that’s able to put together such an exciting final 20 minutes as this one. It is thrilling and funny and packed full of fan-service. It is full-on joyous and silly and brilliant. So, the latest Fast film is more of the same with an unexpected lunge towards comedy and some great performances. They’ll need to pick up some if the series is going to continue to compel audiences to turn up, but Fast & Furious 8 is another enjoyable big noisy blockbuster. Recommended for fans of the series.