Fast & Furious Review
by Homer Yen (homeryen88 AT gmail DOT com)May 11th, 2009
"Fast and Furious" - Familiar Parts, New Model, Less Maneuverability by Homer Yen
(c) 2009
When the first film of this series came out in 2001 (which helped to put Vin Diesel and Paul Walker on the map), it was a turbocharged breath of fresh air. The hubris, the bravado, the plethora of muscle cars and well-toned women was a testosterone-filled joy. And, it was so bad that it was quite good in a campy way. I left the theatre, sat in my car, and just revved my engine wanting to be like one of those bad boys who could hurtle down a city street in their NOS-equipped street machines.
That was then. Now, with guilty pleasures like Grand Theft Auto and a heightened sense of caution spurned by those darn speed cameras that line our county's streets (I can't even get my car out of 3rd gear), the fantasy just isn't what it used to be. And, while the movie is a fun diversion and gives you everything you'd probably expect, this one never achieves the velocity of the first.
No matter. It does, however, get better mileage than the 2nd (goofy) and 3rd (childish) installment. Like the original, rivals Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) have to work together to outmaneuver a common enemy. Much of the basics that made the first film a surprise hit are present here. The surviving main characters from that film all reprise their roles, although each one is a little more street smart. Dom is still running from the law but his brazenness has never dimmed. His girlfriend, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), has obviously developed loyalty and love for him. The opening sequence features an exciting hijacking attempt as these two (and their gang) attempt to steal several gasoline tankers while on dangerous mountain road.
I personally would have liked to have seen the filmmakers devote more screen time to their Bonnie-and-Clyde relationship. But I hear that the DVD will offer a featurette on these two and I will just have to look forward to that. In this film, Dominic has a personal beef with an elusive Mexican drug lord. Brian, meanwhile, has since re-entered law enforcement and has been recruited by the FBI because of his street racing skills. His job is to infiltrate the operation headed by that same drug lord. With a common enemy, they sometimes help each other, try to beat up each other, and find ways to annoy each other. It was nice to see them back together. A reunion with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, after eight years, seems long overdue.
In addition, the film also has a welcome feel of grittiness to it. It shuns the glossiness of Miami and the neon-infused prettiness of Tokyo. As raw as these characters act, these guys look much more at home in this installment, wreaking havoc on congested city streets, desolate plains, and anywhere else a 10-second car will take them. I especially liked the sequence that features a high-speed tunnel crawl across the US/Mexican border, although it sort of encroaches upon Speed Racer territory.
So, yes, I'm glad that I saw it. But, now my question is this: where can the franchise go from here? There's only so much you can do with these characters and these storylines. And it's clear that Dom doesn't really have an equal on asphalt. These films seem to be running out of fresh parts. Well, you can still enjoy the ride for now.
Grade: B
S: 1 out of 3
L: 1 out of 3
V: 1 out of 3
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
