"Furious 7" may be the latest installment in a long-spanning and successful 'Fast & Furious' franchise, but everyone knows what really matters about this film.

It is not the over-indulgent action sequences. Or the heist narrative that has become a touchstone of the franchise in more recent installments.

Possibly for the very first time in the franchise (though not for a lack of trying in previous films), the characters matter most. Or more like one character matters most - Brian O'Connor, played by the late Paul Walker.

The film, directed by James Wan, acknowledges this truth and the viewer, knowing full well that real-life actor Walker did not finish the film, is invested in every move of the picture in a very visceral way.

Every time Brian's life is in danger, the audience starts wondering if this will be the moment where he exits the story for good. And even when there are a couple of moments in which that danger and dread is pushed on the viewer, there is a high level of discomfort, a blending of the narrative fiction with the real-world tragedy (or at least its acknowledgement) that can border on overindulgent.

But ultimately what the viewers want to know is - was Paul Walker treated well in his film move and in the film version of his most iconic role? The answer, for the most part is 'Yes'.

'Yes' in the sense that he remains in the entirety of the film seamlessly; the editors and filmmakers surely did a remarkable job of making him a part of the film without the substitutes or doubles being overtly obvious. His character is very much involved with the plot in a manner that could have been detrimental to the overall story with poor execution.

And of course when all is said and done, the characters acknowledge that things will no longer be the same. And while the moment is intended to break the fourth wall (or the screen), it is actually kind of clunky in the context of the story, if one bothers to really think about it. But that really matters little here when the reality is that the film is making a kind gesture toward an actor who did a great deal to help the franchise reach its heights.

So what about the rest of the movie?

It's a direct sequel to the 2013 film "Furious 6" in which Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his gang are being stalked by Deckard Shaw (Jason Staham), the evil brother of Owen, the villain from the previous film. However, he constantly outsmarts the gang and the only way to capture him is to cooperate with a government agency in locating a hacker. In the meantime, romantic relationships are tested with Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) struggling to remember her past and Brian trying to figure out how to be a father and forget about his life as an action hero.

The film moves relentlessly from one action setpiece to another, each becoming increasingly unrealistic and yet all the more fascinating. Few will be able to deny the potency of the sequence in Abu Dhabi in which Dominic and Brian drive a car across three buildings, each time with the car literally flying from one to the next. Shockingly, these earlier setpieces are filled with so much incredible effects that the big showdown actually comes off as rather derivative and unimaginative. To be sure, this is not necessarily anything that has not been seen before in some form or another, but it sure is well-executed.

However, it is not going to win the Best Picture at the Oscars next year, regardless of what Vin Diesel says (though he likely meant it in jest). The jokes are hokey and the objectification of women at every instance gets a bit annoying, particularly at a drag race sequence early on. The plot itself is excruciatingly flimsy (what "Furious" film actually delivers a compact story?) with never-ending twists and even some melodramatic clichés (Letty and Dominic's "big" moment for example).

And the characters, with the exception of Brian's, really go nowhere new. They remain the same as they have been since they were first introduced in the franchise in 2001.

Dwayne Johnson's Hobbs gets very little screen time in this one, which is rather unfortunate considering he provides some of the best moments in the film.

Ultimately, this action soap opera delivers on a number of fronts, but most importantly in sending one of its big heroes away on a touching and sincere note. Paul Walker has been a huge part of the "Furious" movies and now the franchise will never be the same.

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