The Fast and the Furious (2001). Cert 15. Director - Rob Cohen. Writer - Ken Li. Starring - Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriquez & Delroy Lin
Before seeing this film may I suggest that you print of this checklist
and complete it before entering the cinema.
Mobile Phone Off.
Ticket Purchased.
Popcorn Buttered.
Cola Iced.
Brain off.
With these simple steps completed you will enjoy the film a whole
lot more.
Let's face it TFATF is no contender for Best Film at
next years Oscars. If you go in looking for a high brow European art film,
prepare to be disappointed. If on the other hand it's your day off work
and you need to be entertained for a couple of hours then you will be in
good hands.
TFATF tells the story of a young up and coming cop who
is working undercover to bust a team of truck-jackers. The jackers in
question use highly tuned Japanese sports cars to carry out the score.
Essentially it's Point Break on wheels.
As you would expect from
this kind of popcorn flick everything looks great. The actors are young
and attractive, the cars are fast and shiny and the soundtrack is a
mixture of dance and Nu-Metal.
On the acting front we have Vin
Diesel, for my money one to watch. He builds on his performances in
'Saving Private Ryan', 'Pitch Black' and 'Boiler Room' to show signs that
he could become a force to be reckoned with at the box office. The action
hero chair has been empty for a while and he could easily step up to the
plate. Elsewhere the cast is much of a much with only Michelle Rodriguez
(Girl fight) really standing out. I did think though, that the guy who
played the car geek did an excellent Giovanni Ribisi impression.
Some nice touches during the car chases such as cameras following
sparks through engines and going through cars (you have to see it, it's
hard to explain).
For a summer action movie though it takes a
while to get anywhere. One car race in the first 45 minutes is as hectic
as it gets, but an excellent taught daylight truck-jack later on makes up
for the slow pace of the first half.
At the end of the day, The
Fast and the Furious is popcorn fodder, nothing more, nothing
less.
6/10 for The Fast And The Furious. Poster Quote - Calm down, it's not that bad. |