SERIES star Paul Walker died during the shooting of this inevitable sequel. 

But never underestimate profit-driven Hollywood because he lives on here thanks to the use of excellent special effects and doubles in a riotous reboot that revives the franchise.

Inevitably, box-office glory awaits. 

There’s a new director, the highly efficient James Wan, but otherwise the proven box-office formula remains unchanged. 

Sizzling stunts, speeding car carnage, explosions, gunplay and action erupt ands the narrative is played out with commendably straight faces by actors happy to take second place to the action.

There’s even a plot of sorts — our heroes take on the murderous Jason Statham and save the world from a stolen secret surveillance gizmo from which there is no place on Earth to hide.

But the story is largely irrelevant. Near non-stop adrenaline-surging action is what matters here and on that minimal intellectual, maximum thrill level, the film scores strongly.

Review by Alan Frank