It seems the Fast and the Furious franchise has finally run
out of gas.
Fast & Furious
Universal
Blair Mayston
2 stars (out of 5)
The series which built its success on a formula of
spectacular street racing, hot women and passable (if
implausible) plots has strayed, and forgotten the plot part
of its recipe for success.
Fast & Furious sees the welcome return of fugitive Dom
Toretto (Vin Diesel), and the continuation of his love-hate
relationship with FBI agent Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker).
It's been eight years since Toretto drove across the Mexican
border, committing himself to a life of self-imposed exile in
the Dominican Republic.
When the death of someone he loves brings Toretto back to LA,
he reignites his feud with O'Connor, who worked for the FBI
to infiltrate the street-racing circuit Toretto ran in The
Fast and The Furious.
As they confront a shared enemy, a drug lord who hires street
racers to smuggle product into the US, Toretto and O'Connor
are forced to give in to an uncertain new trust as they join
forces to battle him.
I held high hopes for Fast & Furious given the return of
Diesel (who co-produces the film): he was easily the most
charismatic character in the one that started it all.
But his reunion with Walker falls flat, thanks to a plot
that's too thin and a script that veers between dull and
lifeless.
What's left is the cars and the chases, and there are some
well-executed stunts: the opening sequence, which sees
Toretto make a perfectly-timed run under a burning gas tanker
as it bounces along the road, is breath-taking.
And a race through the streets of LA kindled pleasant
memories of the previous movies in the franchise.
But ultimately Fast & Furious lacks the excitement of The
Fast and The Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious and even The Fast and
The Furious: Tokyo Drift.
It may be time to send this franchise to the wrecker's yard.
- Blair mayston
