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