Furious 7 Parent Guide
The hype surrounding "Furious 7" will likely make it the most successful film of the series. But that doesn't mean these fast-driving, former criminals deserve your hard-earned dollar.
Parent Movie Review
Car suspension systems aren’t the only thing to take a beating in Furious 7. Audiences’ sense of reality is also battered if they buy into this action-packed movie where cars parachute out of a plane, land precisely on a mountain highway and then speed away the moment the rubber hits the road. Unbelievable? Yes! Entertaining? Of course!
Most fans of the Fast & Furious franchise aren’t worried about the laws of physics or the huge plot holes that fill these films. They want an adrenaline-crammed storyline with fast cars and women. But in this story, the street-racing element takes a backseat to all out violence.
After chasing down Owen Shaw (Luke Evans) to retrieve a computer chip in Fast & Furious 6, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew retired from criminal activity and settled into a relatively weapon-free lifestyle. Their peaceful existence comes to an end though when Owen’s older brother Deckard (Jason Statham) sets out to exact revenge. (To show just how nasty he is, Deckard slaughters a host of hospital staff and security guards, and then blows up part of the medical center.)
Deckard’s first attack involves Dom’s friend Han (Sung Kang). His second is to set off an explosion at Dom’s home that nearly annihilates his family. These acts are enough to ignite the crew leader’s ire and set the fast-driving group on a bullet-riddled vengeance run of their own.
A big draw for fans, and some newcomers as well, will be Paul Walker. He played Brian O’Conner, a former LAPD undercover officer who joined Dom’s gang. Walker was killed in a car accident in November 2013, just as the major filming was wrapping up for Furious 7. The production ends with a tribute to the late actor.
However many parents will take issue with some of the movie’s messages. In addition to the reckless stunts and driving that results in multiple casualties, these characters are engaged in constant quarrels that involve weapons, brutal fistfights and explosive devices. Miraculously they don’t break a sweat or incur any bloody injuries during most of their encounters. While the sanitized battles may make the movie less graphic, they are also highly unrealistic. Along with the violence, the film portrays women as little more than eye-candy—even the smart ones—or as tough chicks that tussle in girl fights. Secondary female characters are portrayed in minimal clothing and sensually suggestive poses.
The film tries to play the family angle, focusing on the solidarity of the group and the fatherly roles of both Brian and Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). It is supposed to be a feel good perspective, yet they are only concerned with their own families—everyone else’s is free game to knock off.
With a worldwide box office of well over $2 billion, the franchise has a reputation for big earnings. The hype surrounding Furious 7 will likely make it the most successful film of the series. Still, that doesn’t mean this crew of fast-driving, former criminals deserves your hard-earned dollar—especially if you’re not prepared to buy into these preposterous, high-speed exploits.
Directed by James Wan . Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson . Running time: 137 minutes. Theatrical release April 3, 2015. Updated July 17, 2017About author
Furious 7
Rating & Content Info
Why is Furious 7 rated PG-13? Furious 7 is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for prolonged frenetic sequences of violence, action and mayhem, suggestive content and brief strong language.
Violence: An endless number of faceless secondary characters are gunned down in this movie. Other characters are shot, choked, stabbed, blown up and crushed. Pervasive depictions of gun, weapon and vehicular violence are also shown, with little or no blood. Characters engage in brutal street fights, beatings, and other hand-to-hand combat. The film includes tense moments of peril and danger. Characters perform risky stunts. Buildings and cars are blown up.
Sexual Content: Women are frequently seen in bikinis and other revealing clothing. A female’s buttocks are shown underneath a short skirt. Partial breast nudity is also depicted. Women are shown in seductive poses and engage in sensual dancing. Characters embrace and kiss. Some sexual dialogue and innuendo are included.
Language: The script contains a strong sexual expletive in a non-sexual context along with dozens of profane and crude expressions, mild cursing and scatological slang terms.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters drink in social settings.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Furious 7 Parents' Guide
Note: Furious 7 was perviously called Fast and Furious 7
Talk about the movie with your family… How does this film depict women? Are any of them favorable? Why is Brian’s wife worried that he will be disappointed with his role as a father and husband? Why does he consider domestic life to be so undesirable in comparison to a life with “bullets?”
Both Dom and Deckard are out for revenge in this film. But one death requires the taking of another. When does revenge end? What cost comes to those who are left behind? Why do these men consider their family to be sacred and the others’ to be disposable?
This script includes several antagonists. Can too many storylines be distracting? How do viewers know whom to trust in this movie? Does it take too long to wrap up the different plots and bring a resolution to the film? What elements would you cut out if you were the editor?
When Dom and his crew arrive in Abu Dhabi, they park their cars on walkway where several women strut by wearing bikinis. Does this reflect the clothing styles of that country? How can depictions like this mislead viewers who may travel to those areas of the world? Here’s a list of culturally acceptable clothing for travelers to Abu Dhabi.
More About the Movie: After the huge financial success of this franchise, it is not too surprising that the studio has decided the show must go on, despite the loss of one of the lead actor, Paul Walker who played Brian O’Conner.
Learn more about the death of lead actor Paul Walker.
From the Official Facebook Site: The FAST & FURIOUS saga is about family. The characters are connected by the bond of family, and it is how all of us who have worked together for more than thirteen years feel about each other. It certainly defines how we feel about our fans.
Our family experienced an unthinkable shock in November. We had to take time to grieve Paul, the brother we love and lost, and to figure out if we should move on with our film.
We came together and all felt the only choice was to continue. We believe our fans want that, and we believe Paul would want that too. Paul had already shot his dramatic scenes and most of his action for FAST & FURIOUS 7, and it’s among the strongest work of his career.
We have resumed shooting and now welcome Paul’s brothers, Caleb and Cody, into our FAST family. Caleb and Cody are helping us complete some remaining action for their brother and fill in small gaps left in production. Having them on set has made us all feel that Paul is with us too.
We are just under a year away from the release of FAST & FURIOUS 7, and this film is the most important we’ve ever done together. It will allow the character of Brian O’Conner to live on and let us celebrate Paul in his most defining role.
We wanted to take a moment to speak to our fans directly and thank you for the love and support you always show us as we resume our work.—Official Facebook Site
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Furious 7 movie is September 15, 2015. Here are some details…
Home Video Notes: Furious 7
Release Date: 15 September 2015
Furious 7 releases to home video with the following special features:
- Extended Cut of the Film
- Back to the Starting Line: Producer Neal Moritz, Chris Morgan and the cast join franchise newcomer director James Wan as they look back at how far the franchise has come bring the latest installment to life.
- Race Wars: Furious 7 brings the crew back to Race Wars, the iconic, fictional racing event from the very first film. Vin Diesel and a couple hundred friends are back for a full-throttle celebration of all things Fast with special guest-star Iggy Azalea, behind-the-scenes footage of the cars, the sweat and the girls.
- Snatch and Grab: A behind the scenes look at shooting one of the premier action sequences in the franchise’s history.
- Making of Fast & Furious Supercharged Ride
- The Cars of Furious: The car coordinator and his team join the cast and filmmakers for a closer look at the film’s spectacular cars.
- Flying Cars: People jump out of planes all the time, but not while sitting behind the wheel of a car. This entertaining featurette shows how the Furious 7 team pulled off this jaw-dropping sequence.
- Tower Jumps: A look at how one of the most exciting stunt sequences of the film, the Abu Dhabi tower jumps, became a reality.
- Inside the Fight: A combination of fight training footage and interviews takes viewers inside the fierce hand-to-hand fights.
- Talking Fast: Director James Wan and the cast of Furious 7 break down the movie’s most memorable moments and chat about how the Fast franchise has evolved over the years.
- Deleted Scenes
- “See You Again” Official Music Video Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth
Related home video titles:
This movie is part of a franchise that includes: - The Fast And The Furious (2001) - 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) - The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift (2006) - Fast & Furious (2009) - Fast Five (2011) - Fast & Furious 6 (2013).
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