This ride is going to be insanely popular. So much so that Six Flags is planning multiple ride installations at SFMM and Knott's to complete with it. A major win for Southern California after a nearly decade long dry spell.
As for the theming...I'm mixed. Some of the decisions are admittedly head scratchers, but considering they went with Fast and Furious, I'm curious at what people expected? And they did manage to give us the most insane trains ever on a rollercoaster imo.
The length of the ride is deceptive. If half of the ride was concealed by buildings or other elements, it wouldn't seem short at all. The fact that you can follow the track from launch to brakes continuously takes away some of the surprise factor.
Like X2, you simple won't get a true sense until you're on it.