F9 introduces Dominic Toretto's long-lost brother, and one particular line seems to indicate those behind The Fast Saga are aware there isn't much resemblance. The latest movie in the Fast and Furious films pits Vin Diesel's Dom Toretto against John Cena's Jakob Toretto. Thus far in the franchise, the younger Toretto hasn't even been mentioned, and the new film reveals that's because Dom blames him for their father's death. After discovering Jakob may have had a hand in their father's fatal racing accident in 1989, Dom defeats his brother in a race and tells him never to return. The pair haven't seen each other since.
Despite worrying about living in his brother's shadow, Jakob also becomes an international spy. In the film, he is in pursuit of Project Aries, which is a device that can control any weapons system in the world. To complete the villainous plot in F9, he needs to locate both halves of the device, which are kept in separate locations. Dom and his crew are called in to try to protect the device, leading to multiple run-ins with Jakob along the way. Dom says he's all about family, but F9 puts that to the test. To prevent the Aries device from falling into the wrong hands, he needs to face his dark past with Jakob.
Despite being related, Jakob and Dom don't look much alike, and F9 has one line that shows the film is in on the joke. Early in the movie, Jakob captures cyber-terrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron), who can help locate part of Aries. True to her nature, Cipher belittles her captors and notes how different Jakob is compared to his brother Dom. She points out Jakob's distinctive chin and says his different looks must come from the "Nordic strain" in the Toretto bloodline.
With the line, F9 is winking at the audience. With each successive film, the Fast and Furious movies get increasingly ridiculous. In the first movie, Dom and his crew were stealing DVD players. In F9, Ludacris flies a car into outer space. The "Nordic strain" line finally shows the creators behind the films are in on the jokes. Yes, John Cena and Vin Diesel don't look anything alike, but it doesn't matter. These films have more to focus on than two brothers who look slightly different. Any incongruities can be explained away in a single line, and the plot (involving a famous rapper launching off into space) can march on.
The quote in F9 also adds more mystery to the Toretto family's history. John Cena is actually of Italian and French-Canadian descent, so the "Nordic" line isn't quite right. Though it could simply be an error, perhaps it's actually clue of other Toretto family members who may enter the mix in the future. Vin Diesel has never clarified Dom's ethnicity, leaving the door open to add anyone to his past. After all, as Dom once said, "You don't turn your back on family." That still applies to the "Nordic strain" side of the Toretto household.
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