Release Date:
04/03/2009
Directed by: Justin Lin
The Skinny: After diminishing sequel returns, the cars and crooks franchise sheds the unweildy "The" weight in its title and reunites the fast and/or furious original players: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriquez and Jordana Brewster. Because YOU DEMANDED IT! OK…not really. Because THEY WEREN'T BUSY!
The Good: These movies are often referred to as "car porn" and, well, that's an apt description on more than one level. Like porn, it's really hard to criticize Fast & Furious for its cringe-inducing dialogue, afterthought of a story, and ridiculous action. That's not really the point, is it? The real point is made in every lingering shot of slick body work and muscular engines, which the movie has in abundance.
The Bad: But, like porn, you can't call this a "good" movie. It's not. Even judged on its own slight merits, Fast & Furious falls short. The race scenes are way too "video gamed" out to have any real impact. You should feel like you're behind the wheel of these badass machines, tearing down busy streets while you flirt with automotive carnage—you shouldn't feel like you're watching someone else unlock Midnight Club levels. And the "emotional" impact of these "beloved" characters coming back together would probably work better if you were ever made to care about any of them.
Missed Opportunity: We still think 2 Fast 2 Be 4 Gotten would have been a better title.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? This is a rental only if you've lent out your copy of Midnight Club and have nothing else to do.
The Skinny: After diminishing sequel returns, the cars and crooks franchise sheds the unweildy "The" weight in its title and reunites the fast and/or furious original players: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriquez and Jordana Brewster. Because YOU DEMANDED IT! OK…not really. Because THEY WEREN'T BUSY!
The Good: These movies are often referred to as "car porn" and, well, that's an apt description on more than one level. Like porn, it's really hard to criticize Fast & Furious for its cringe-inducing dialogue, afterthought of a story, and ridiculous action. That's not really the point, is it? The real point is made in every lingering shot of slick body work and muscular engines, which the movie has in abundance.
The Bad: But, like porn, you can't call this a "good" movie. It's not. Even judged on its own slight merits, Fast & Furious falls short. The race scenes are way too "video gamed" out to have any real impact. You should feel like you're behind the wheel of these badass machines, tearing down busy streets while you flirt with automotive carnage—you shouldn't feel like you're watching someone else unlock Midnight Club levels. And the "emotional" impact of these "beloved" characters coming back together would probably work better if you were ever made to care about any of them.
Missed Opportunity: We still think 2 Fast 2 Be 4 Gotten would have been a better title.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? This is a rental only if you've lent out your copy of Midnight Club and have nothing else to do.