What is the plot of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’?
After years of being sheltered from the human world, the four Turtle brothers (Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon) set out on a quest to be accepted as normal teenagers by the people of New York City through acts of heroism. With the aid of their new friend April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), the brothers go on a hunt for a mysterious crime syndicate, but trouble arises when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.
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Who is in the cast of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’?
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with actor and musician Ice Cube about his work in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,’ joining the popular franchise, his love for the Turtles, playing the villain Superfly, the recording process and bonding with his co-stars.
Ice Cube stars in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.’
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Ice Cube, Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, and director Jeff Rowe.
Moviefone: To begin with, were you a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles before joining this project and what does it mean to you to be a part of this franchise?
Ice Cube: Oh, yeah, a big fan. I’ve been checking them out since the ’80s and I took my kids to the movies and dealt with the lunch pails, the bedspreads, the action figures and all that. Remember when Kevin Durant went to the Warriors and they was already champs? It’s kind of like that. It’s like joining a championship franchise and getting a chance to make a difference. So, it was a dream come true for any actor.
MF: How would you describe Superfly in your own words and was it challenging finding the character’s voice?
IC: Superfly is the King of New York. Everything that’s bad, you’ve got to run through him. You’ve got to check in, for sure. But he has a heart. He don’t want to be an ugly Superfly. He wants friends. He wants acceptance. He just wants people to like him. He just wants to go to happy hour and eat his bowl of sugar and smoke a cigar, man. You know what I mean? It’s one of those things where he’s a guy you can understand, and if you don’t give him that, he tears up New York.
Ice Cube as Superfly in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,’ which opens in theaters on August 2nd.
MF: I understand for this film, the recording process was done differently than on other animated movies as you actually got to work with the other actors you were performing with. Can you talk about that process and what was that like for you?
IC: It seemed like all animation should be done this way. You get a different kind of performance when you’re in the room with other actors who can match your timing, and you guys can kind of bounce off each other. It’s why the film feels so real and natural, and it doesn’t feel like the standard animation where you can tell somebody’s in a pristine studio, and they’re by themselves, and they’re trying to make it sound like they’re part of a group. This is the way to do it.
MF: Finally, did that process allow you to bond with the four actors playing the Turtles, and what was it like for you working with them?
IC: Very cool. All of them have great energy. All of them have great voices. When you think of animation, you think of people with amazing voices. How do you have a voice that’s perfect for a cartoon, especially when they’re young? I’m always amazed at these perfect voices that are chosen in animation, not just ‘Ninja Turtles,’ but most animation, they find the people with the most unique sounding voices that’s usually perfect. So, I like listening to them talk.
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies Present ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.’
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After being expelled from the utopian Barbie Land for being less-than-perfect dolls, Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) go on a journey of self-discovery to the real world.
‘Barbie’ is a surprisingly subversive, entertaining, and hilarious movie that was beautifully shot by director Greta Gerwig. The filmmaker sets a strong tone and Barbie Land is a fully formed universe, however the movie loses a little magic when the characters briefly travel to the “Real World.” Margot Robbie delivers a funny and very emotional performance as Barbie, but it is Ryan Gosling that steals the movie as Ken, delivering a hilarious and also musical over-the-top performance.
Story and Direction
Director/Writer Greta Gerwig attends the ‘Barbie’ Press Junket Photo Call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo by Eric Charbonneau.
The story is fairly simple and begins by introducing us to the colorful and delightful Barbie Land and all of the Barbies and Kens that live within it. We soon meet “Stereotypical Barbie,” (that’s actually what she is referred to in the movie), played by Margot Robbie. Barbie lives a perfect life among the other Barbies, which include President Barbie (Issa Rae), Physicist Barbie (Emma Mackey), Journalist Barbie (Ritu Arya), and even Mermaid Barbie (Dua Lipa), until one day she realizes her life is not as perfect as she thinks. This begins an existential crisis for the character that leads her to Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon), who explains that she must travel to the “Real World,” to find the human who is “playing with her.”
As Barbie journeys to the real world, she discovers that Ken (Ryan Gosling) has tagged along as his world revolves around Barbie and he would not know what to do without her. But once they arrive, Ken discovers the antiquated idea that men are superior to women. No longer wanting to live in Barbie’s shadow, Ken quickly returns to Barbie Land, suppresses the other Barbies and leads the other Kens to a misogynistic revolution.
Meanwhile, Barbie discovers her owner, a teenager named Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) who has lost interest in dolls and no longer believes in Barbie’s ideals. Her mother, Gloria (America Ferrera), just happens to work for the CEO of Mattel (Will Ferrell), who is fully aware that something is wrong in Barbie Land as it is causing sales of the toys to go down. Now, it is up to Barbie, Gloria and Sasha to return to Barbie Land, liberate the other Barbies, and put an end to Ken’s evil reign.
The screenplay by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach is quite clever and sets the right tone for a fun summer movie that also tackles a lot of important subjects like female empowerment and toxic masculinity with grace and humor. The film is also not afraid of making fun of itself and the absurdity of a ‘Barbie’ movie, while also taking on the criticisms that Mattel and the doll line have faced over the years and making the case of why Barbie is a good role model for girls. Kudos to Mattel for having the smarts to hire Gerwig and Baumbach (two excellent filmmakers) in the first place and then having the guts to let them make the movie they wanted to make.
Gerwig began her career as an actress in films like ‘Greenberg,’ ‘The House of the Devil’ and ‘Arthur’ but wrote 2012’s ‘Frances Ha,’ which she also starred in. She made her directorial with ‘Lady Bird,’ which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Director, and followed it with ‘Little Women,’ which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. ‘Barbie’ is a big leap for her from Academy Award nominated movies to summer blockbusters, but the director does it with ease, crafting a completely enjoyable popcorn film, that also makes you think. Gerwig’s independent film background also serves her well as she fills the movies with odd inspirations, from a reference to ‘The Red Shoes’ to the choice of using a particular Indigo Girls song ad nauseum.
It has long been rumored that comedian Amy Schumer was originally tapped to play the title role in ‘Barbie,’ and while I understand what they would have been going for with a “Not Perfect Barbie,” I actually think that message gets across better by casting Margot Robbie in the lead role. Aesthetically she looks perfect, which is why she is called “Stereotypical Barbie,” but Robbie is also an incredible actress, which allows her to chip away at the character’s perfectness and show you who she really is, which is strong and vulnerable at the same time, her greatest strength. Robbie’s performance gets to the heart of the character, and the theme of the movie, which is that every women can be whatever she wants and is in charge of her own destiny. ‘Barbie’ gives Robbie her first chance at leading a blockbuster movie without playing Harley Quinn, and the actress proves that she has a lot of range and is now a big time movie star in her own right too.
While Robbie’s Barbie is definitely the focal point of the film and carries the movie well, she also allows her co-star Ryan Gosling to steal every scene he’s in. Best known for his cool-as-ice public persona and appearing in action dramas like ‘Drive’ or ‘The Gray Man,’ Gosling really gets to use his comedic chops in this film and takes advantage of every opportunity he has to poke fun at the character, while never becoming a cliché. Though his actions are misguided, Gosling reveals his characters’ vulnerability and low self-esteem, which allows the audience to sympathize with the character. Make no mistakes, Ken is the villain of the movie, which is delightful in itself, but Gosling is still likable as the character despite his despicable actions.
It should also be noted that ‘Barbie’ is partially a musical, and with his dancing background in films like ‘La La Land,’ and of course his history with the ‘Mickey Mouse Club,’ the actor knocks it out of the park in his dance scenes and especially his MTV video like sequence where he sings the opus “Just Ken.” Once Ken “goes bad,” Gosling’s transformation from an innocent lovesick puppy dog to a misogynistic 90’s boyband reject was absolutely brilliant and brings some of the movie’s best laughs. Gosling and Robbie are great together on screen, and clearly understood the tone Gerwig was going for.
There are so many well-known actors and actress playing different versions of Barbie and Ken that I can’t mention them all, but Issa Rae certainly stood out as President Barbie, as did Kate McKinnon playing Weird Barbie, the doll your older brother got a hold of and put through a woodchipper. Emma Mackey, who is often confused with Robbie in real life, was cleverly cast as Physicist Barbie, and musician Dula Lipa also stands out in a cameo as Mermaid Barbie opposite John Cena’s Mermaid Ken. Two MCU alumni, ‘Secret Invasion’s Kingsley Ben-Adir and ‘Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu also play Kens, but neither are given anything significant to do. While many may not remember, the Mattel line of dolls did introduce two other less popular characters, Allan and Midge, who are played well comedically by Michael Cera and Emerald Fennell, respectively.
Outside of the Barbie Land characters, America Ferrera and Ariana Greenblatt are both great as Gloria and Sasha, respectively, and their mother/daughter relationship really helps to bring home the message of the movie. Helen Mirren plays the narrator and I can’t think of an actress with more gravitas to voice the role. The script also allows her to add her own funny commentary, including mentioning that Barbie’s eloquent monologue about the pressures of being beautiful would have more weight if not delivered by an actress as aesthetically pleasing as Robbie.
However, there were a few “real world” characters that didn’t quite work. Look, it’s always nice to see legendary ‘Cheers’ actress Rhea Pearlman on screen, but she plays the ghost of Barbie creator Ruth Handler, who unexplainably lives on the 7th floor of Mattel’s corporate headquarters. While the actress gives a nice monologue that ties the themes of the movie together at the conclusion, it didn’t seem entirely necessary. The film already asks us to except the idea that Barbie Land and the dolls are real, so trying to also except that ghosts and the afterlife exist seemed a step too far for me.
I also have to question the casting of Will Ferrell as the CEO of Mattel, as it is basically the same character he played in ‘The Lego Movie,’ which uses a similar storytelling device with the idea that the toys are real and what they do in their world affects ours. Maybe Gerwig was going for a meta-joke with his casting, or perhaps she just wanted to work with Ferrell, who is perfectly fine in the role, but I couldn’t help thinking of the comparisons to ‘The Lego Movie’ and Ferrell’s inclusion took me out of the movie in some moments.
Which leads to my next point, the “real world” scenes are definitely the low point of the film. Once Barbie and Ken journey to the real world, which is about 30 minutes into the movie, I was worried that the rest of the film would take place there and it would become a “fish out of water” story with Barbie not understanding human concepts like money, or being sexually objectified by men. Unfortunately, those stale jokes are used, but luckily the characters do not stay in the real world for long and the third act takes place back in Barbie Land. I do understand why the characters needed to go to the “real world,” plot wise Ken needed to discover misogyny in order to bring it back to Barbie Land, and while some scenes work, like Ken’s altercation with a female doctor, it’s not the high point of the film and you are grateful when they do return to Barbie Land.
Barbie Land
Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
The major set piece of the movie is Barbie Land and it comes to life beautifully with eye-popping color and a magical tone. Set designer Sarah Greenwood and decorator Katie Spencer did marvelous work creating a realistic yet magical world and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are rewarded for their work come awards season. Their design for Ken’s Barbie Land is also unique and fabulous, with stallions and heavy metal featured throughout. Costume designer Jacqueline Durran will also likely be on a shortlist come Oscar time with stunning costumes that represent many of Barbie’s iconic looks. But again, the fun is when Ken transforms and his costumes look like a cross between Sylvester Stallone in the 80s and ‘N Sync.
Is ‘Barbie’ a Kid’s Movie?
Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
No, is the short answer. With a PG-13 rating, some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers, and while they might enjoy the humor, musical numbers, and colorful characters and sets, some of the film’s political and pop culture messages will get lost on a young audience, but its message of love and equality will shine through, even if it is subliminally.
Final Thoughts
Director Greta Gerwig has done the impossible … delivered a ‘Barbie’ movie that is an entertaining summer blockbuster, while also being socially important and containing thoughtful, emotional and funny performances. Margot Robbie earns her movie star status producing and starring in this well-made summer tentpole, while Ryan Gosling proves he’s just as funny as he is cool with his hilarious over-the-top performance.
After being expelled from the utopian Barbie Land for being less-than-perfect dolls, Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) go on a journey of self-discovery to the real world.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with co-writer and director Greta Gerwig to talk about her work on ‘Barbie,’ why she wanted to direct the movie, working with actress and producer Margot Robbie, and Ryan Gosling’s hilarious performance as Ken.
‘Barbie’ co-writer and director Greta Gerwig.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch it.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to idea of a Barbie movie, and once you agreed to be a part of the project, what tone and direction did you want to take the film in?
Greta Gerwig: I had been wanting to work with Margot Robbie and she had the rights and was setting it up with her company at Warner Bros. She came to me and said, “Would you like to write this movie?” I jumped at the chance because it was her, and I was like, “Yes, I would love to.” I was also terrified of it because I was not even sure where to start with a Barbie movie. I think there was something about it that seemed like such a tricky problem to solve that it felt a bit of a puzzle. What’s the vantage point? How do we get into this? Then once Noah and I had written the script together and we had the script, that’s when I thought, “Oh, I love this and I don’t want anyone to direct it but me.” So then I said, “I have to direct it,” and they thank goodness, let me.
MF: What was it like working with Margot Robbie and why was she the right actress to play this specific version of Barbie?
GG: I mean, Margot’s a dream as a producer, and as an actor, she’s everything. I mean, she can do anything you want 10 times over, backwards in heels. She’s just an extraordinary actress. I always knew it was going to be hers so when we were writing it, I knew it was going to be hers. So that was always in my mind, but I think that as we worked on it, as we started doing rehearsals and started reading, it just changed and got deeper and more dimensional because I started to know her really well as a person, as an actor, and it was something that evolved alongside her.
MF: Finally, can you talk about Ryan Gosling’s performance as Ken and the direction you wanted to take that character?
GG: I mean, Ryan is jaw-dropping. He’s incredible in this movie. It’s the same thing I like about Margot is that Ryan is incredibly funny, but he never does it in a way that’s making fun of the character, it’s always inside the character. He takes it very seriously, which is why it’s so funny. I actually also wrote it for him, which I can’t believe still that he said yes because I didn’t know him. He wasn’t sure at first, and then I waited him out and he finally was like, “Oh, they’re not going to leave, they’re still here,” which was me and Margot. We just wouldn’t let him not do it. Yeah, and what he brought to it was just he committed beyond any way I would ever imagine in my wildest dreams he would commit. We texted about it and talked about it for a year before we started shooting. We came up with the idea of his Flo Jo dojo mink. But we were texting back and forth pictures of like, we both love Sylvester Stallone and we were like, “What about this look? What about that look?” Then there’s like a pair of glasses he wears in the movie when he puts on the second pair of glasses that were based on the glasses that the ballet director from ‘The Red Shoes’ wears. So they are these cat eye glasses and they’re just such wonderful glasses. I mean, we went so detailed with it and it was like references we gathered for so long. I was sort of slightly terrified when he showed up. I was like, “What if he doesn’t want to do any of this?” But he showed up and just committed, bleached his hair, did the whole thing, shaved his legs, and then there we were.
Director/Writer Greta Gerwig attends the ‘Barbie’ Press Junket Photo Call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo by Eric Charbonneau.
Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
The past always has a way of catching up with Dominic Toretto and his gang. This time, someone from Dom’s past shows up in the most unexpected way, putting everyone in danger, including Dom’s son – Little B.
“Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they must confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced. Fueled by revenge, a terrifying threat emerges from the shadows of the past to shatter Dom’s world and destroy everything — and everyone — he loves.”
‘Fast X’ premiered in Rome on May 12, 2023. It opened in theaters domestically on May 19th. The film opened to $67 million and has grossed over $676.9 million worldwide since its release.
The Past Continues To Haunt Dominic Toretto
(L to R) Vin Diesel and Daniela Melchior in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Trouble always seems to find its way to Dominic Toretto’s doorstep, much like when ‘Fate of the Furious’ villain Cypher (Charlize Theron) shows up at Dom’s home badly injured. She tells Dom of a new threat named Dante, who turns out to be the son of drug lord Herman Reyes. Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) appeared in ‘Fast Five’ and met his end after chasing Dom’s team for the vault.
Played by Jason Momoa, Dante seeks revenge for his father’s death and will stop at nothing to hurt Dom – including kidnapping his son Brian. Dante may be the franchise’s most interesting and formidable villain so far – outsmarting Dom in ways we’ve never seen before. Fashionable, unhinged, and outright entertaining to watch, Dante steals every scene he is in.
New Players Entering ‘The Fast & Furious’ Franchise
(Right) Brie Larson is Tess in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Joining the Fast family are Brie Larson (‘Captain Marvel’), Alan Ritchson (‘Dark Web: Cicada 3301’), and Daniela Melchior (‘The Suicide Squad’). Brie Larson portrays Tess, who is revealed to be the daughter of Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell). She is helping Dom and his team in their fight against Dante Reyes. Alan Ritchson plays Aimes, the new head of The Agency. Daniela Melchior plays Isabel, a Brazilian street racer who is connected to someone from Dom’s past.
There is more than meets the eye with these new characters, so you should check out the movie to find out exactly who they are and if they’re on Team Dom or plotting against them.
Where Can I Watch ‘Fast X’?
Jason Momoa as Dante in ‘Fast X’, directed by Louis Leterrier.
The film was released theatrically in the United States on May 19th, 2023, and its follow-up is already announced to be released on April 4th, 2025. While the movie is already available on VOD, you can still catch the high-octane action in theaters. ‘Fast X’ is available in IMAX, Dolby Atmos, 3D, and 4DX format, so be sure to check with Moviefone below for showtimes in your area. ‘Fast X’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 21 minutes, making it the second-longest movie in the franchise.
You now have the option to rent or purchase ‘Fast X’ on VOD for $19.99 or $24.99, respectively. The movie is available on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Direct TV, Google Play, Vudu, Microsoft, YouTube, AppleTV, and Redbox.
As the movie is distributed by Universal Pictures, Peacock subscribers (in both Premium and Premium Plus tiers) will be able to stream ‘Fast X’ once available – likely to be in late August or early September though no official date has been announced by the studio.
No official date has been announced for the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the film, though pre-orders are already available from stores such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.
(Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
(Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
‘Fast X’ opening in theaters on May 19th, is the latest entry in the sprawling, wildly successful franchise that begun in much more humble fashion as a take on ‘Point Break’s undercover lawman genre in 2001 and his since spiraled into a bombastic action franchise revolving around the endlessly repeated theme of family.
After a muted, disappointing entry with ‘F9: The Fast Saga’ in 2021 (which nevertheless did good business), it’s a relief to report that fans of the franchise, led by star/producer Vin Diesel, is a return to the ridiculous, stunt-heavy, common sense-free form that we’ve come know and appreciate.
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What’s the story of ‘Fast X?
Dominic Toretto (Diesel) is back living in the family home in Los Angeles with wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry). It’s a relatively quiet time for Dom and his gang, punctuated by family barbecues, driving lessons for Brian and a visit from his Abuela (Rita Moreno).
But Dom’s peace is ruined when old enemy Cipher (Charlize Theron) shows up badly injured at his door one night, spinning a story of a new threat called Dante (Jason Momoa). He, it turns out, is the son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), the drug kingpin that Dom and his team robbed and killed 10 years ago in Rio (as chronicled in the events of ‘Fast Five’ in 2011).
(From left) Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Soon, the flamboyant, crazed Dante is setting traps for our heroes, including luring Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) on a fake mission to Rome where they and others, including spy agency member Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) must stop a giant, rolling bomb from destroying parts of Rome and the Vatican.
But when they’re all framed for the attack, the “family” is scattered to various parts of the world as Dante schemes and undermines them, stealing all their money and threatening their own family members.
Soon Dom is locked in a frantic battle with Dante, forced to rely on everyone he loves, even as they’re put in mortal danger. Can he succeed against this powerful villain?
(Right) Brie Larson is Tess in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
To put it bluntly, there are two main advantages to the new ‘Fast’ movie, and the biggest is easily Jason Momoa. Clearly understanding that he A) needs to bring some fun and B) have some fun in the role of the big bad, he’s the most entertaining villain, and possibly the most entertaining character, the franchise has had for a long time.
Extravagantly dressed, free of macho impulses and always ready with a quip, he’s a giant breath of fresh air that nevertheless also feels like a real challenge to Dom and co. Even his mantra of, “Never accept death when suffering is owed,” inherited from his late father (who is glimpsed in an opening blend of footage from ‘Fast Five’ and newly created shots) helps to justify why Dom and company usually tend to escape from their adventures all but unscathed. You might still find yourself shouting, “why don’t you just kill [insert name here]??” at various points, but that’s all part of the fun of the franchise.
And let’s be honest: people “die” in this movie series and have returned before (Han in particular). It’s rarely the end it might be elsewhere.
(From left) Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry, back to camera) and Jakob (John Cena) in ‘Fast X,’ directed Louis Leterrier.
While there were real concerns after ‘F9’ felt like a tired retread of the usual tropes, a sign the movies are running out of gas, ‘Fast X’ actually comes across as a second wind, embracing the set piece silliness and leaning into the entertainment value. Aside from Momoa, it also succeeds by letting Cena embrace his more humorous side since switching sides from being the vengeful villain in the previous entry.
An early briefing for a new character lets the franchise poke proper fun at itself, nodding towards the physics-defying action and globe-trotting story. It’s a canny way to catch up anyone who has decided to make this their first ‘Fast’ movie (though it’s hard to imagine anyone rocking up to these films without having seen at least one other).
Plus, new director Louis Leterrier (who replaced veteran Justin Lin after the latter quit one week into production) is something of a revelation, bringing a combo of his ease with the sort of high-concept action where he started his career (such as ‘The Transporter’) and finding the emotional core these films need to work.
(L to R) Vin Diesel and Director Louis Leterrier on the set of ‘Fast X.’
What are the problems of the movie?
For all its advantages, there are also the usually clunky elements, this entry still boasting scenes that make it seem as though a straight-to-DVD B-movie broke out in the middle of a summer blockbuster.
Actors who have won Oscars struggle with dialogue that would trip any actor up, whole moments sounding like they were written by feeding to suggestions to a ChatGPT AI that was then dropped on its hard drive, so leaden and first base are the results. It’s especially glaring for any scenes set in the mysterious “agency” spy division currently run by Ritchson’s Aimes. The man who is Jack Reacher on TV doesn’t break free of the dodgy lines he’s handed. And even Larson can’t make Tess work beyond some basic motivations.
And Diesel, despite being the core of the film, remains the one who treats it all so completely seriously that it’s actually less fun when he’s growling and putting the pedal to the metal.
(From left) Queen (Helen Mirren) and Dom (Vin Diesel) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Even as the movie acknowledges its own ridiculous nature, you’ll end up giggling at how many times the word “family” is uttered as usual, and the number of familial connections between characters is becoming ever more ridiculous. Everyone Dom knows at this point is connected to someone else in the franchise. It’s not hard to imagine him running into someone at the local auto parts store who is a long-lost cousin.
Fortunately, ‘Fast X’ is nimbler than ‘F9’ and papers over some of these typical cracks with gusto .
‘Fast X’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
‘Fast X’ is produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Justin Lin, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Samantha Vincent. The executive producers are Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr., David Cain, Chris Morgan, Amanda Lewis and Mark Bomback.
Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Just when you though the ‘Fast & Furious’ team had really, truly finalized plans to wrap the franchise up (while still, of course, leaving the car door open for future spin-offs etc.) with the already-announced 11th entry as a two parter with this week’s ‘Fast X’ along comes star/producer Vin Diesel teasing that there could well be at least one more movie.
Team ‘Fast’ headed to Rome shortly before the weekend for a big press event to promote the movie (which makes sense, since a chunk of the film takes place in the city).
Interviewed by Fandango about a possible future for the franchise, Diesel said this,
“It’s a really good question. As filmmakers, you want to allow people to enjoy the film without tipping the hat too much. I can say this. Going into making this movie, the studio had asked if this could be a two-parter. And after the studio saw this, part one, they said, could you make ‘Fast X’, the finale, a trilogy?”
Diesel and co-star Michelle Rodriguez wouldn’t be drawn on whether it’ll happen for sure, though Diesel did say, “probably”.
You can see the full video here:
WATCH: On the red carpet in Rome, Italy, did Vin Diesel just confirm that #FastX is the first part of a… trilogy?! Whoa! It all begins in theaters a week from today. Ready, set… go get your tickets! 🚘🎟's —> https://t.co/jO68lUJ5h6pic.twitter.com/2DiJsYkgUz
Of course, even though Diesel has an awful lot of say over developments in the ‘Fast’ world, it’s up to Universal whether this actually happens. But we can certainly see the studio happy to keep its most successful franchise motoring.
Our guess –– and this is purely speculation –– is that executives are waiting to see the box office results of ‘Fast X’ before making any final decision.
Jason Momoa is Dante in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Directed by Louis Leterrier (who replaced Justin Lin) ‘Fast X’ picks up with Dom and his crew as they look to fend off the pair of big bads — the cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) and her mysterious cohort, Dante (Jason Momoa), who, it turns out, has a link to another previous franchise antagonist, the drug kingpin Reyes, played in ‘Fast Five’ by Joaquim de Almeida.
Dante, as the trailers for ‘Fast X’ have already revealed, is the son of Reyes, and has spent the time since ‘Fast Five’ plotting his revenge against Dom and co.
Dom and the usual gang will need help of a new friend, Tess (Brie Larson), who has her own connections to a supporting ‘Fast’ character.
And original franchise star Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow will appear in the film in a cameo to “honor” the legacy of her late father, as she revealed on social media last week.
‘Fast X’, as mentioned, is due in theaters on Friday. The 11th film (with Leterrier returning) has yet to announce a release date but is likely headed our way in 2025.
(L to R) Jason Momoa and Vin Diesel star in ‘Fast X.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures.
‘Fast X’ is produced by Universal Pictures, Original Film, One Race, and Perfect Storm Entertainment. It is set to premiere in theaters on May 19th, 2023.
Season 2 of the popular series ‘Die Hart,’ which is cleverly entitled ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter’ will premiere March 31st on The Roku Channel.
What is the plot of ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter?’
Directed by Eric Appel (‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’), ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter’ picks up after the events of the first season, which saw actor Kevin Hart (played by the real Kevin Hart) achieve his dream of becoming an action star when his reboot of ‘The Jeffersons’ becomes a box office hit. Now Kevin wants to cement his legacy as the greatest action star of all time.
Kevin’s developed a concept for a revolutionary movie where the action is so unscripted and unexpected that even he won’t know what’s coming next. But Kevin’s myopic dream comes with a blind spot, and he soon finds himself the victim of an evil revenge plot, orchestrated by someone from his past. Now, Kevin must enlist the help of his favorite co-star Jordan King (Nathalie Emmanuel), his over-eager assistant Andre (Ben Schwartz), Andre’s mom Cynthia (Paula Pell), and legendary Hollywood stuntman Mr. 206 (John Cena) if he wants to survive.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Hart about his work on ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter,’ playing an exaggerated version of himself, becoming an action star, the show’s new characters, working with John Cena and the rest of the cast, the title, and which classic TV series he would like to see given a big screen adaption.
Kevin Hart stars in The Roku Channel’s ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter.’
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Kevin Hart.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about the challenges of playing an exaggerated version of yourself in this series and were you concerned that some people might think this is the real you?
Kevin Hart: No, I mean this is a fun role to play. The opportunity to play an exaggerated version of yourself can only set the table for you to do things that you wish you could do in real life. You can get away with so much more. So I think I’m very happy with the real version of myself, but I love now having the table and template set up to play this version, and people understand the difference.
MF: In the series, the character of Kevin dreams of being an action star. In real life, is starring in action films something you’ve always dreamed of doing in addition to comedy?
KH: I think the roles and the opportunity attached to them have put me in a space where I can dabble, or have dabbled in action. This here is just taking it to the next level of fun and participation. There’s real movies that are set up to happen later in the year where the action is, I can say, a massive upgrade than what you’ve seen me do in the past. Everything is done with a plan attached to it, right? Nothing is an accident. So in this case, setting the table up for the playful entry into action, and for the playful idea of Kevin wanting the opportunity, only to later expand and show me having it. It’s all thought out. So baby steps, the baby steps of association are what you’re witnessing. Only to eventually see the side that I know is coming, be presented, and be real, and be good. That’s the beauty of being creative. That’s the art and artistry of idea and execution. So I can only hope that the takeaway from this one is really significant and have an immediate understanding that, “Oh yeah, Kevin can do this because we saw him doing it before.”
Kevin Hart stars in The Roku Channel’s ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter.’
MF: In addition to playing Kevin Hart, you also play a new character this season, Doug. What can you tell us about him?
KH: Doug is a stunt man to Kevin, who wants to be an action star. Well, you definitely need a stuntman. In this series, there’s a stance that Kevin has where he doesn’t need a stuntman, and he kind of overlooks, overpowers, overshadows him to the point where he says he doesn’t need him. His stuntman is left with kind of egg on his face because he’s done so much to get him where he got. Just like that, Kevin throws him to the side. So Doug basically goes, “Well, I’m going to get my revenge, and I’m going to make sure that you get yours. I’m going to take you down.” So there’s this thing of Kevin being haunted by his stunt guy. At the same time, trying to figure out the world of what this action thing is, while Natalie is convincing me of another, and John Cena’s doing what he’s doing. So there’s a lot of different directions that Kevin is being pulled into, and rightfully so. It just adds for great comedy and a great foundation for us to expand on.
MF: How did you create Doug’s unusual voice?
KH: Being silly, just being silly and finding something. It was very easy and then marrying myself to it. But yes, it wasn’t a difficult stretch or a difficult thing to pull through. The teeth and the costume, it all helped.
John Cena in The Roku Channel’s ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter.’
MF: What was it like working with Nathalie Emmanuel again and new cast members Ben Schwartz and John Cena?
KH: Great, from top to bottom. We are following the amazing cast that participated in part one, including Josh Hartnett, John Travolta, and Nathalie Emmanuel. Following suit in this season, with Natalie returning, we also have John Cena and Ben Schwartz. You want a very diverse cast, but you want a cast that gives you the opportunity to attack a global landscape. We feel that we check that box with comedy, with action, and with personnel. So we’re very lucky and fortunate to have gotten the participation that we got. They’ve all exceeded our expectations just in performance. They elevated the material, they made it better, and that’s all you can hope for.
MF: Can you talk about collaborating with director Eric Appel on the series?
KH: He’s amazing. Eric and our writer Tripper (Clancy) have done an amazing job in just helping to shape and mold this IP into what it is today. I have a good time doing it, which is why I’m still here, right? Regardless of my landscape and the size of things that are going on, this is a priority and always has been.
(L to R) Nathalie Emmanuel and Kevin Hart in The Roku Channel’s ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter.’
MF: In the first season, your character adapts the classic TV series ‘The Jeffersons’ in to an action movie. What classic television series would you like to see adapted in to a big screen movie?
KH: God, if you want to go and adapt it into a big screen movie, ‘Knight Rider.’ ‘Knight Rider’ could be a movie. I put that in that same space as ‘The A-Team’ and ‘Baywatch,’ of one of the ones that they can take and just have a bigger plot, a bigger twist, a bigger journey, so that it’s not one note. I would say ‘Knight Rider.’
MF: Finally, and obviously, the title of the second season is a spoof on the ‘Die Hard’ sequel, ‘Die Hard 2’ Die Harder.’ Is it safe to say that if there is a third season it will be called ‘Die Hart: With a Vengeance?’
KH: Hart definitely will be in there. We’re not losing the world of ‘Die Hart.’ So yes, you are spot on and we’ll cross that road when we get to it.
(L to R) Kevin Hart and Ben Schwartz in The Roku Channel’s ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter.’
The new action comedy, which Feig will direct from Rob Yescombe’s script, will kick off filming next week and will premiere on Prime Video worldwide.
Says Feig, “I love action comedy and extreme physical comedy and this movie has both in abundance, as well as a boatload of heart and hilarity. This lotto will make winners of us all.”
According to Amazon and MGM Studios boss Jennifer Salke,
“’Grand Death Lotto’ is the kind of original idea audiences have been craving, and there’s no one better than the endlessly talented Paul Feig to steer the ship. We can’t wait to watch John Cena, Awkwafina, and Simu Liu bring this fun, action-packed script to life for our Prime Video customers around the world.”
Though he’s mostly been known for more straightforward comedy, Feig is hardly a stranger to adding action in the mix –– 2016’s ‘Ghostbusters’ featured plenty of spooky combat, while there was espionage threats in ‘Spy’, cop shootouts in ‘The Heat’ and magical battles in his recent ‘The School for Good and Evil’.
Paul Feig attends the World Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘The School For Good And Evil’ at Regency Village Theatre on October 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.
The official synopsis reads: “In the very near future, the Grand Lottery has been established in economically challenged California. The only catch? Kill the winner before sundown and you can legally claim their prize. New LA transplant Katie (Awkwafina) accidentally finds herself with the winning ticket and must join forces with amateur jackpot protector Noel (Cena) to make it to sundown in order to claim her multi-billion dollar prize, all while dealing with Noel’s protection rival Louis Lewis (Liu), who also wants to get her to sundown in order to claim his rich protection commission.
Awkwafina will next be seen in horror comedy ‘Renfield’ (in theaters on April 14th) and heard in Disney’s new version of ‘The Little Mermaid’, which will swim into theaters on May 26th.
And Cena –– assuming anyone can see him –– will reprise his role as Jakob Toretto in ‘Fast X’, headed our way on May 19th.
John Cena in ‘F9.’
The fear of violent death is also something that will concern Isabela Merced, who is transitioning from the romantic complications of Hulu’s ‘Rosaline’ to the new ‘Alien’ movie that Fede Álvarez is making.
Little is yet known about exactly what will happen in the movie, but according to the basic official logline, a group of young people on a distant world find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
And we don’t, of course, know how Spaeny, Merced and the rest’s characters will factor into that, but we’d have to guess they’ll spend some time fighting for their lives.
The new movie won’t directly follow the original series of extraterrestrial horror/action movies as kicked off by Scott’s ‘Alien’ in 1979, nor will it continue the story in the director’s ‘Prometheus’-led prequel films (Scott keeps saying he’ll make another of those himself).
Álvarez certainly has the horror chops to pull off a compelling new ‘Alien’ movie, which for the past few years has largely been the province of Scott. And though he’s been prolific of late, he hasn’t returned to the universe since 2017’s ‘Alien: Covenant’.
Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in James Cameron’s ‘Aliens.’
Neill Blomkamp took a crack around 2014/2015, releasing concept art for a movie that would follow Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley from the Scott films, but aside from a lot of social media activity, it eventually got delayed indefinitely so as not to muddy the xenomorph waters before ‘Covenant’.
You can imagine, then, that Álvarez must have come up with something interesting to have Scott give him the thumbs up. Either that, or the venerable filmmaker has so many other projects on his plate between directing and producing duties that he simply realized he needed to give someone else a chance for a while. He has his ‘Napoleon‘ film, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, in post-production now.
Though it has yet to announce a release date, we can imagine that, with filming underway, the movie could well hit theaters in 2024.
Merced has a couple of other movies on the way, including John Green adaptation ‘Turtles All the Way Down’ and Sony’s Spider-universe superhero film ‘Madame Web’, which will be out on February 16th next year.
(L to R) John Cena and Jason Momoa to star in action-comedy ‘Killer Vacation.’
What, exactly, would a vacation featuring John Cena and Jason Momoa look like? Chances are it would involve weight machines, tanning oil and no little amount of surfing (Momoa loves it and Cena… played a wave-riding penguin in ‘Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania’?)
But for a new action-comedy called ‘Killer Vacation’, there might be more chance of bullets flying and cars blowing up (or maybe dolphins with rocket launchers if it’s a tropical trip).
The actual plot details, though, are a mystery (we’re willing to entertain cash offers if they want to add dolphins with rocket launchers), but what is known, per Variety’s story is that Warner Bros. is backing the movie and has recruited Cena and Momoa to star.
And they’ve reportedly been looking to work on something together after apparently having fun in the new ‘Fast & Furious’ movie, which has been busy shooting. Cena will return as Jakob Toretto, the brother of Vin Diesel’s Dom.
Momoa, meanwhile, is playing a villain that he’s described as “a peacock at the highest level and I’m having the time of my life.”
As for ‘Killer Vacation’, the script comes from Brian and Mark Gunn, who wrote ‘Brightburn’, and the story’s tone is being described as a fun, splashy adventure in the vein of ‘True Lies’.
The surname of the writers should ring some bells––Brian is James Gunn’s brother, and Mark is his cousin. There’s another connection, too, as one of the producers of ‘Killer Vacation’ is Peter Safran, who has just taken over DC Studios in partnership with Gunn (though this film was put together a while before that deal was locked down).
Both actors also have links to Gunn, either through Safran, or directly.
(L to R) David Dastmalchian, John Cena, Idris Elba and Daniela Melchior in ‘The Suicide Squad.’
Cena was one of the stars of ‘The Suicide Squad’, which Gunn wrote and directed (and Safran produced), and then Gunn created successful TV spin-off ‘Peacemaker’ for him.
Momoa is, at least for now, a key component in the DC universe––he plays Aquaman and has sequel movie (produced, like the original, by Safran) ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ on the way on Christmas Day. You’ll have to wait, though: it’s Christmas Day 2023, so more than a year to wait.
No director is attached to ‘Killer Vacation’ yet, and all the talk of this team-up makes us wonder what is happening with the buddy cop action-comedy that Momoa and Dave Bautista were planning.
Born from a tweet by Bautista (see below), the project has a script from Jonathan Tropper and has since been picked up by MGM, but with that company’s absorption into Amazon, there has been little forward movement since then.
(L to R) Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood in 2015’s ‘The Longest Ride.’
Having seemingly sped around (or, given this franchise, though) its director departure roadblock, the Fast & Furious’ franchise is well and truly back in high gear. The latest installment, ‘Fast X’ is recruiting from among its deep bench of previous cast members, as Scott Eastwood will return for the new movie.
Eastwood appeared in ‘Fate of the Furious’, the eighth installment, directed by F. Gary Gray and released in 2017. His character was a rule-following government agent who is frequently seen with his boss, Mr. Nobody, a shady manipulator played by Kurt Russell.
Does this mean that Russell – whose character was briefly a plot point in last year’s ‘F9: The Fast Saga’ – will also return? No one is saying yet. But you wouldn’t be wrong if you started speculating that the slick Nobody could once again feature.
Speculation is pretty much all we have at this point when it comes to the plot of ‘Fast X’. With Louis Leterrier now on board to direct, the story will likely see Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto and the rest of the ‘Fast’ family tackling another big threat from the likes of Charlize Theron’s calculating Cipher.
Alongside Diesel, the returning cast also includes such core names as Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Sung Kang. Michael Rooker as mechanic and Toretto family friend Buddy) and Cardi B (as paramilitary leader Leysa) are reportedly back from ‘F9’. Given Buddy’s presence, that could point to redeemed villain John Cena’s Jakob Toretto also popping up, but the ‘Fast’ team have revealed nothing about his possible appearance.
(L to R) Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, and Jason Statham in ‘The Fate of the Furious.’
While Justin Lin left the director’s job a couple of weeks into shooting over creative and script differences, he’s still attached as a producer and wrote the screenplay with Dan Mazeau (though we’re fairly certain it has since gone through some changes).
Eastwood, who followed his famous father into the film business, is best known for movies including ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’, ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘The Longest Ride’. He was most recently seen in Prime Video’s romantic comedy ‘I Want You Back’. Along with ‘Fast X’, he’s also filming LA riots drama ‘April 29, 1992’, in which a shopkeeper must save his son from an angry mob in the wake of the Rodney King verdict.
Despite the delays, it seems that ‘Fast X’ is still on track to make it into theaters on May 19th next year. It’ll be followed by a second movie, which will wrap up both the story of these last two entries and, according to Diesel, bring the franchise as a whole to a close. At least until the various spin-offs start their engines…
‘Fast X’ Logo. Courtesy of Vin Diesel’s Instagram account.
