Fourths Of July: FAST & FURIOUS (2009)
Prelude To A Cultural Phenomenon
In 2009, the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise as we know it was born with the release of FAST & FURIOUS. Directed by Justin Lin, it takes place before the previous installment FAST & FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT (2006). The film brought back Vin Diesel in the starring role of Dominic “Dom” Toretto, the gruff and loyal lead of the “Fast” saga. Five years after escaping from the United States, Dom returns to Los Angeles to avenge the murder of sweetheart Leticia “Letty” Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez). He is reunited and forced to work with foe Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), now an FBI agent tracking down the Mexican drug lord Arturo Braga (John Ortiz), who, unbeknownst to Dom, is responsible for Letty’s death. FAST & FURIOUS as a stand-alone film is nothing special, but the events of this film changed the franchise into the box-office smash hit it is today, setting up the seven sequels. The film’s detours from the “Point Break” formula of the first establish important traits and plot lines of the franchise, while doubling down on what made THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS (2001) so appealing.
Which is not to say that FAST & FURIOUS isn’t similar to the original film. Once again, Dom and Brian must race each other and spend the film constantly trying to outdo one another. Brian finds himself torn between his passion for races and his affection for the Torettos, and his duty as a law enforcement officer. Dom is determined to protect those who cares about against all odds. Mia (Jordana Brewster) and Brian make eyes at each other every chance they get. Crimes must be committed for the greater good. A significant part of the movie is just impressive car races in even more impressive vehicles, all to a great soundtrack. However, the film brings great new elements to the saga.
Firstly, without FAST & FURIOUS, there would be no FAST & FURIOUS 6. Or FURIOUS 7. Or even the fantastic HOBBS & SHAW. All of these movies’ plots depend on Letty’s apparent death and subsequent resurgence. Even though the character is missing from most of the movie. Letty’s mere memory is powerful enough to move an entire film’s plot along. Also, it is revealed that Letty was working with the FBI to clear Dom’s record and have him return to Los Angeles, the first instance of a member of the Fast Family collaborating with law enforcement, a recurring motif.
The film also solidifies Dom’s characterization. Dom’s loyalty to his loved ones drives him to destroy an entire drug operation. Throughout the series, Dom often risks his life and freedom for his family without a second thought. Additionally, his penchant for self-sacrifice is established, as he leaves Letty in the beginning of the movie to protect her from the harm that follows him. His characteristic temper is exhibited as well. Towards the conclusion, he kills Letty’s murderer Fénix (Laz Alonso) without hesitation, both in revenge and to save Brian. After discovering that Brian was the last person in contact with Letty before her death, Dom gives his rival a classic Toretto beat-down. The physical combat between the two heroes established a common occurrence in the series. Every film has had at least one of the characters (usually Dom) engage in a flashy and intense fist fight at a key moment in the film.
But we also see Dom’s capacity for forgiveness, as by the end of the film, he welcomes Brian into the family and gives the cop and Mia his blessing to pursue their romantic feelings. Brian and Dom’s friendship becomes one of the most important relationships in the franchise, even after O’Conner’s retirement in FURIOUS 7 (following Walker’s death in 2013). Dom burying the hatchet with former foes is yet another frequent theme, as exemplified by his reluctant alliances with Special Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) after trying to pummel them to death in previous films. And finally, it doubles down on how Dom is an unbeatable driver, which often allows him to save the day in the FAST AND FURIOUS universe.
FAST & FURIOUS is also the first of the series to intentionally target Latinx and Latin American audiences.
The film’s audience in the United States was approximately 46% Hispanic/Latinx and the following installments have replicated this success to capture Latinx and Latin American audiences. In addition to Universal’s marketing to Hispanic audiences through Spanish-language promotion, the film is riddled with Latinx culture, such as its music, its bilingualism, its emphasis on family, and the characters’ love for cars. This inclusion of its most faithful audience members extends to the film’s locations. The opening takes place in the Dominican Republic, where Dom, Letty, and fan-favorite Han Lue (Sun Kang) team up with Han’s girlfriend Cara (Mirtha Michelle) and old friends Tego Leo and Rico Santos, played by reggaetón legends Tego Calderón and Don Omar. The last two became recurring characters in the franchise, including supporting roles in FAST FIVE (2011). They became the first of many Hispanic Caribbean artists featured in the franchise.
The rest of the film takes place between Los Angeles and Mexico and features a largely Latinx cast with Rodriguez and Brewster in main roles, and Laz Alonso and John Ortiz as the lead villains. The soundtrack includes reggaetón and hip-hop tracks by Latin artists like Don Omar, Tego Calderón, and Pitbull, as did the ones in many of its sequels.
While FAST & FURIOUS is pretty formulaic in a myriad of ways, it broke ground for the success of the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise. It established the bonds that drive the story. It transformed Dom Toretto from “Bodhi if he illegally raced cars” to the mythical pop cultural staple he is today. Its appeal to Latinx and Latin American filmgoers elevated it to an international phenomenon. 13 years after its release, the adventures of Dom Toretto and his ever-expanding family bring audiences in droves to the cinema, and it’s all because of this passable fourth film.
