The Fast And The Furious has come along way since it's street-racing debut in 2001. The initial trilogy focused heavily on car modifications, the illegal races and the pitfalls that come with them. Then in 2009, director Justin Lin (returning from threequel Tokyo Drift) switched it up with a franchise entry that largely forgot it's street-racing roots and opted for a more standard action movie style. With this years Fast Five, it's clear the series will forever more be a straight forward, been-there-seen-that action series. With cars. Lots and lots of cars.
The film kicks off with Brian O' Conner (Paul Walker) and his partner Mia (Jordana Brewster) breaking her brother Dom (Vin Diesel) out of his one-way trip to the local penitentiary. Once all three has escaped, they venture to Rio de Janeiro, where they meet with an old friend, Vince (Matt Schulze). Vince informs the trio about a particular job involving stealing DEA marked cars from a moving train. Needing the cash, the group accept the job only to realize they've been double crossed by a Brazilian drug lord, Reyes. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Dom calls upon some old friends to help the trio pull off their biggest job yet.
I remember watching the opening to Fast & Furious (the 4th film in the series) and thinking it was a total blast. It's just ridiculous enough to switch off your brain and be bedazzled by the metal-crunching action. When that film had ended, and subsequently went on to make $155 million in the United States, it was obvious we hadn't seen the last of Dominic Toretto. I had hopes the 5th film would follow in it's predecessor's footsteps by allowing big, insane stunts that were over-the-top but not so much as to be bafflingly silly. Unfortunately, Fast Five is just that. It's too big. Here is a film where two men can drive a car off a 1,000ft cliff and survive it. Or where a couple cars can drag a 10 tonne vault through a city center and hit no one! There is suspension of disbelief...and then there's Fast Five.
The audience for this franchise obviously aren't going for a rich plot or good storytelling. They want to see familiar faces driving very fast, very expensive cars; and that's exactly what they'll get. So if that's all you want then you'll inevitably enjoy the film. The problem is, the film fails on every other level. Fast Five is rife with atrocious performances, cardboard (and heavily stereotyped) characters and a script so fucking stupid it'll make your mind bleed. I won't go into spoiler territory, but seriously, some of the film's plot threads are completely inane. A quick example; the group are all on the FBI's most wanted list. The FBI know they are in the slums of Rio. Yet, when researching a vault that they're trying to steal, they import an exact replica. Of a 10 tonne vault. How does no one see that?! The thing is 15ft tall!
I could sit here for hours and pick apart the movie's plethora of flaws. But ultimately (and unfortunately) I know Fast Five will go on to make another $100 million+ at the worldwide box office, so is there a point? All I can reinforce is; the actors are bad. The script is bad. The action is overblown. The movie, in general, is just...not very good, really. So, if you fancy destroying some brain cells, treat yourself to Fast & Furious 5.
