The Fast & Furious franchise has continued to see diminishing results over the past several entries, but it was Jason Momoa's incredible villain turn in Fast X that kept me from completely abandoning the action franchise altogether. Given how absurd Fast & Furious has become as a series, it's remarkable it started out relatively low-key, revolving around street racers attempting to hijack electronic equipment from trucks. By now, Fast X features outlandish concepts, such as space travel!
Though Fast X isn't hailed as particularly great, it showcases one of the best villains of the franchise, Dante Reyes, played by Jason Momoa. His performance marks one of the highlights of the Fast & Furious series, presenting Dante as a character who dances to his own drum, distinguishing himself from the countless villains who have come before.
Momoa's portrayal imbues the role with charisma, positioning him among the franchise greats. Unlike past characters steeped in hypermasculinity, Momoa's approach is refreshingly flamboyant. He struts through every scene with half-serious humor, painting his nails lavender and pink and wearing his hair up stylishly. The transformation signals much-needed levity, highlighting the actor's comedic talents.
Indeed, Momoa is clearly relishing his role as Dante Reyes. After years of playing cool, stoic characters, his flamboyant and zany demeanor injects life and energy back to the franchise. There's no hesitation on Momoa's part—he embraces the absurdity and seems to be having the time of his life. It's evident he understands the folly of the franchise and navigates it with self-awareness, setting him apart as more fun-loving than the other cast members.
Reflecting on his character, he called it, "the funnest role I've ever played," during interviews with Rotten Tomatoes. Momoa elaborated on how he crafted his character's wardrobe—citing how costume choice was just as important as how he wanted viewers to perceive Dante. "I really weigh heavily on wardrobe and props. I really built much of this wardrobe with the costume designer... I wanted something warm and inviting, and then when you got close to him, you were just like, 'That's the devil and the devil tricked me.'" This thought process showcases Momoa's commitment to bringing depth to the character.
Getting to the heart of it, Momoa explained the complex psyche of Dante Reyes, shaped by personal tragedy. "You come from a crime family. My father was taken from me...I just spent most of my life obsessing about Dom and having revenge," he stated, shedding light on the villain's motivations. The combination of style and story makes Dante Reyes one of the franchise's standout figures, bringing renewed vigor to the series hanging by its threads.
Despite its long history, the Fast & Furious franchise has shown signs of fatigue. After being at its peak with Furious 7 back in 2015, the series has struggled with diminishing returns. Enter Jason Momoa as Dante Reyes—his introduction brings with it more life and entertainment than recent installments could muster. With just the right dose of flair, he completely revitalizes the film experience.
Though the future remains uncertain for Momoa's character, Fast X leaves audiences wondering whether they'll see more of Dante Reyes. Fans are clamoring for more, hoping to witness his character continue to develop within the franchise, which seems less likely with limited narrative closure at the end of the film.
There's no overstaying on how captivating Momoa's portrayal of Dante Reyes was. His eccentric antics and heartfelt performance provided some of the most memorable moments both within the film itself and the series at large. If the Fast & Furious franchise were to have its way to continue with future installments, many would welcome Momoa with open arms and anticipate what delightful insanity he might conjure next.
