'Furious 7': What the Reviews Are Saying

This weekend marks the theatrical release of one of the most anticipated movies of the year: "Furious 7."

In addition to being the latest addition to a massive franchise with a huge fan base, "Furious 7" is also the final performance of the late Paul Walker, who has been the face of the franchise since the first film. As such, there's an extra expectation for "Furious 7" to be a big experience.

So, how is it holding up against critics?

So far, it's looking pretty good for "Furious 7." The early reviews are in, and critics are calling it thrilling, action-packed and over-the-top (in a good way). Thus far, the movie has and 82% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with roughly the same percentage, or possibly even higher, among top critics.

Peter Howell of the Toronto Star calls it "thoroughly satisfying and entertaining," and others agree that while the plot is well-worn territory, the effects and action are truly spectacular.

Additionally, fans of Paul Walker will be happy to know that critics are mostly agreeing with the way the movie handles his death and saying goodbye to his character as a kind of proxy. "Furious 7 served up a classy, heartbreaking send-off for its departed star, one that acknowledged the tragedy of real life without allowing it to overwhelm the fictional world," wrote Elaine Teng of The New Republic.

Negative reviews have called out some of the action as repetitive, complaining that each action sequence feels to similar to the next and that nothing particularly stands out. Others complain of major plot holes, cheesy catchphrases and loud, mind-numbing action laden with unnecessary explosions.

However, "Fast & Furious" fans reading about loud action and cheesy catchphrases are likely to only feel relief that this will be another familiar installment that doesn't change up the franchise's formula too much. As a result, die-hard fans will likely love "Furious 7."