Jakob (John Cena) decides to switch to Dom's (Vin Diesel) team and helps his brother take down Cipher (Charlize Theron) in a ...

For many people, the “Fast & Furious” series fits into that category. The plots are absurd, the action is so over the top it belongs in a cartoon, and Vin Diesel’s acting never rises above mediocrity.

For those who think that the blockbuster “Fast and Furious” franchise is stupid beyond saving, it’s clear you won’t be heading to theaters to see chapter 9 when it opens this week. For the rest of us ...

If “F9” is your first encounter with the “Fast and Furious” franchise, you’ll wonder who all the cliché-spouting characters are. If you’re one of the faithful, you’ll wish they had nametags.