Buckle up, gearheads! The Fast Film Fest just shifted into ninth gear getting ready for that final sprint to the finish line.
Because of Orthodox Easter on Sunday, we shifted our high-octane hangout to a rare Saturday night instead. But hey, if Dom Toretto taught us anything, it’s that family comes first! We took over Cinema 7 in Oakville, which is basically the VIP lounge of movie theaters. Picture this: plush leather recliners, enough personal space to stretch out, and just the right amount of private clubhouse ‘vibes’ to sneak a sip from a flask if you were feeling like a rebel.
Now, let’s talk the films. While the OG trilogy is basically the tuner Bible, by the time F8 and F9 were released theatrically the series had pivoted into full-blown action blockbusters. But that didn’t stop our own little ‘fast family’ from showing up for the penultimate film in the series.
Since the Film.ca Cinemas is an old-school theater, we maintained the tradition of a cartoon before the main feature. This was part of the moviegoing experience from the 1920s to the 1960s when studios like Warner Bros produced cartoons specifically for theatrical release, like the 1949 Road Runner cartoon ‘Fast and Furry-ous‘.
Once the credits rolled on ‘F9: The Fast Saga‘ the real-life car show began. We zipped down to the parking lot for the mandatory photoshoot. Our newest crew members, Enzo and Abraham, brought the heat with a stunning blue Subaru BRZ and a sleek gunmetal VW Golf GTI. They looked so good, we weren’t ready to go home yet!
We chased the moonlight to the weekly meet at Financial Dr in Mississauga; and it was like stepping right back into the movie. The song ‘Gasolina’ by Daddy Yankee was bumping from someone’s car, tire smoke was hanging in the air, and with about six police cruisers flashing their red and blue lights, making Financial look like a disco.
For those asking if we’re going to restart the series from the beginning: don’t hold your breath! This was a wild winter project to keep the Demaras family entertained during the off-season. But the tracks are calling, and racing season is officially back! We might pop back for a one-off screening of Sung Kang’s “Drifter” this summer, but for now, we have one final lap. In three weeks, we’re screening the 2023 movie “Fast X” for the die-hards who’ve been with us since October. After that we’re hitting the nitrous switch and leaving the Fast Film Fest behind us, merely a speck in our rearview mirror!