← Back to Reviews
 
FAST & FURIOUS 5 (2011)


The Fast and the Furious movies have been known to draw in a lot of views from a wide audience. Its got the girls for the guys, the guys for the girls and the cars for just about everyone! Not only does it have high speed chases and death-defying stunts, but its got a storyline that drives the movie on and on and still, somehow, despite everything being about cars and action, remains to hold your attention. Well, you'll be pleased to know, Fast 5 doesn't fall short of its predecessors.

Fast 5 begins pretty much where the last movie left off, with Dominic Torretto (Vin Diesel) all locked up and traveling down a desert highway in a prison bus, which so happens, to be targeted by our heroes, Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) which most clearly pull of some intense driving maneuvers within the first 2-3 minutes of the film. An amazing open sequence and one that caught the attention of everyone in the cinemas, some in awe, others in sheer chills of how cool some of the driving was.
The film follows the trio on their enemy-of-the-state run in which they have to avoid some dangerous criminals and some even more dangerous tactically trained mercenaries/FBI agents. Along the way we meet some of the old favorites from the former films which ultimately help the trio on their journey and on their last job which will set them for the rest of their lives and allow them to disappear.... forever.

Although the script isn't all that amazing, it isn't horrible. The storyline is fairly action-packed and easily tells the narrative by pulling as (happily) along on a wild-goose chase around Rio de Janeiro. There are some really cheesy lines, but they don't take away from the film and ultimately provide us with some cheap laughs, allowing us to really let loose of some of the tension which seems to build itself up along the film.

Director Justin Lin by no means had any issues with this film. He had his eyes set on making something entertaining and that was exactly what he did. The film doesn't make an attempt to make us see a beautiful world, nor does it try and make us ultimately enjoy the scenery; it does what it's supposed to none the less. Looking at the screen you can see the hell hole the trio are residing in. There are no beauty spots in this film, unless of course you look at certain shots in which Dom and the rest of the crew are intending to have a good time. None the less, Lin takes is back to F&F roots with street races and local driver hang-outs which we saw from the first movie, which was a most certainly welcomed feature.

There wasn't much to the casting here, because everyone had been cast prior in one of the original films counterparts. The characters selected to be brought through to F&F5 none the less were realistic. Dom, Brian and Mia fit perfectly into the film and as they had in the former films, all three performers bring the regular bad-assery to their characters. Diesel doesn't seem so in the zone in terms of acting at the moment, but he makes up for it when he's beating the crap out of someone or blasting down a highway in his prize car. Dwayne Johnson is the most notable new cast member, and, quite honestly, he does an okay job at adapting himself into the world of the Fast & Furious. His acting needs some work, but being a wrestler and all, you don't expect him to perform as well as Paul Walker considering his roots are to be over-dramatic.

Other cast members pulled their characters into the story well, delivering their lines well and developing relationships between one another fairly realistically. Although at points you may doubt certain characters need to the film, there is no doubt in my mind that each and everyone of the recruited members for the crew were essential. Although Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson were the main big names in this film, everyone held their all performance wise; perhaps even the lesser known more so than the crowd favorites.

A story that is jam-packed with action, cars, girls and humor, Fast Five is most definitely worth a watch. If you're willing to switch off and allow some of the less realistic features of the movie pass you by, you'll have a blast with this joyride. Although it isn't an essential watch, Fast Five will most likely be a pleaser; especially if you liked the former films. Leaving room for yet another film, we may be seeing more of Dom and the gang in the near-future.

So race on into your local cinema and give this one a look if cars, action, girls and bad-assery are your thing.