There are good films, bad films and some plain ridiculous ones. And then there is a critic-proof phenomena like Fast and Furious franchise which fuses all of the above and comes up with a brand all its own.

This one is a blockbuster with smack-you-in-your-face set pieces, death-defying stunts, muscle cars, family-first ethos, ridiculous one-liners which get all the taalis and an apology of a plot.

It is down to director Matthew Vaughan (Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class) that the film has that deranged yet boisterous quality about it. However, this one’s only for those who can stomach unimaginable quantities of violence. The rest, like Valentine, need to look the other way.

Even though the film is about a fulfilling marriage that finally fails, it never degenerates into negativity. The underlying message is that of hope, as put in words by the physicist himself, “While there is life, there is hope.” We will toast to that.

The greedy suits have gone ahead and wrecked our cinematic experience once again. Where we could have had a cracker of an end to the Hunger Games franchise, what we get is half a novel, which, as expected, has more pauses than action, more waiting than doing.

Despite the complaints, this is one intergalactic trip the audience needs to take. It may not match up to those touchstones of sci-fi cinema – Solaris and 2001: A Space Odyssey but it finds its place in pantheon of films which dare to dream.

Probably the most light-hearted Marvel movie, this one pulls you in with its wacky narrative turns and keeps you engaged in a world far, far away where anything can happen. If a popcorn cruncher is what you are out for, grab the tickets for this one. You will not be unhappy when at the end of the film, they tell you that they have just turned this one into yet another franchise. Bring them on, we say.

The film is a screwball comedy in its truest sense. Buoyant and idiosyncratic, opulent and silly, this one is for lovers of cinema that goes beyond Hollywood mainstream.

A perfect summer watch which will also give you something to think about – go for it.

While the film does get manipulative in places and is practically begging you to bubble, mostly it is infused with warmth, humour and acerbic comments. Scriptwriters do a commendable job in keeping the film funny and engaging and ensuring that the pathos don’t overpower us.

Even then, carry your kerchiefs. But rest assured, you will come out of the theatre smiling.

Unlike the usual kiddie fare, the underlying theme of this film is dark. It is not just any other animation film and brings up issues which need to be dealt with. It is a metaphor for how humans deal with ecology and also questions if peace is an option in the real world.

The darkness is balanced well with humour in the film and even in the climactic sequence, you will find something to smile over. In fact, that’s what you will find yourself doing when credits roll.