Fast Five Review

What started out as a franchise based solely on cars and illegal street racing has now evolved into a franchise about high octane action sequences and more muscle than brains. With director Justin Lin on his third Fast film. He excels in one area, action. The action is fast and furious!

Following on from were Fast And Furious ended. Fast Five follows Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) and Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) as they evade the FBI and head to Rio de Janeiro. It isn't long before more powerful people are hunting them. Luke Hobbs (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), a hard nosed Federal agent and quite the badass is tasked to hunt them down. Dom Toretto organises one last job and invites all the characters from past films along for the ride.

Fast Five isn't a masterpiece, it's not even a great film. It's a fun film and the action sequences are superb. Sure the dialogue is a bit simplistic and the story feels unoriginal. But they are necessary to set up some insane and very cool action sequences. Justin Lin has a great eye for action and shoots it frenetically. The film as a whole gives a nostalgic feeling of 80's action films starring Schwarzenegger and Stallone. But not a forced one like The Expendables. A fight scene between Vin Diesel and The Rock is pumped full of male testosterone, but is very entertaining at the same time.

I'm guessing there will be another Fast movie in the franchise and I'm fine with that. Fast Five isn't perfect by any means. It's an enjoyable two hours at the cinema. The action sequences alone are worth the price of admission and the last chase sequence is spectacular and reminded me of the bridge sequence in Bad Boys 2. The franchise, under the helm of Justin Lin seems to be steering away from street racing and drifting into all out action fests. For a person who was never drawn to the franchise for its cars. I'm happy with that. But die hard Fast fans won't be disappointed with Fast Five. There is fair amount of car antics that will keep them happy.

Overall, Fast Five boasts brilliant action sequences and beautiful aerial shots of Rio. It's pure fun and doesn't require too much thought. The simple plot plods along and can be quite tedious at some points. Interaction between Vin Diesel and The Rock is cool and gives this franchise just enough gas for a sixth film.

7/10

Thanks.

Chris.