Sandy Kenyon reviews 'The Fate of the Furious'

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The latest "Fast and the Furious" film hits theaters this weekend, and despite its ominous name, "The Fate of the Furious" is not expected to be the final movie.

The eighth film in the franchise is named as such because the future of the diverse group of racers is called into question, and it's what's called a "critic- proof movie," meaning those who will see it don't much care whether those who review it are fans.

"The Fate of the Furious" lies not so much in the heat of Havana where the movie starts, but on a glacier in Iceland where it finishes. And yet, many will be most excited by a chase through New York City that is among the most elaborate ever filmed here.

Though some of the action is digital trickery, the cars flying out of buildings in Manhattan last summer were very real. The cars are controlled by a villain named Cipher, played by Charlize Theron, who has also found a way to get Vin Diesel's character to turn against his crew.

So formidable are Dom's skills that characters played by Dwayne Johnson and Jason Stathan -- sworn enemies -- must work together. The loser in all this is "Lettie," who Dom' has just married.

Around the time we find out the reason for his betrayal, "The Fate of the Furious" goes from implausible to the impossible point of a race between a submarine -- top speed less than 50 miles per hour -- and cars that can go more than four times as fast.

But will the kids care? Sixteen-year-old Linus Dentel agreed the action was a bit far-fetched, but he still called it "scintillating." His brother Luke, who's a self-proclaimed "car guy," was thrilled by a garage full of cool vehicles.

Their mom thought parts were "beyond ridiculous" and way too violent, but her sons were more than happy to recommend the film to their friends.