Rarely do sequels get a shot of adrenaline and are revitalized to original form. Director Justin Lin, who directed the third installment of The Fast and Furious Franchise, comes back with a sledgehammer for the fifth, aptly titled Fast Five. The film is pedantic plot-wise, but delivers an old school cinematic beatdown with its awesome action scenes. And I’m not talking silly CGI effects. Lin unleashes beautifully shot car carnage unseen in film so far. I had seen the trailers and was expecting a good action flick, but the depth and scope of the final product is very impressive. Even the opening, which could have been so lame, is drilled into your brain with audacity and execution. Lin’s use of slow motion is so well done, it adds that perfect note to let the audience know they are in for a wild ride.
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The plot kicks off with Dom (Vin Diesel), Brian (Paul Walker), and Mia (Jordana Brewster) on the run in Rio. They link up with Vince (Matt Schulze), in his first appearance since the original. He convinces them to steal some cars for the gangster kingpin of Brazil, Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida). The heist goes awry as the team is double crossed. But they escape with a vehicle that has the key to all of Reyes’ wealth. Dom decides this is their chance to stop running with a final score of epic magnitude. They recruit their old pals - basically all of the secondary characters in the previous films - to help them stage an impossible crime. But, they have a new adversary, Agent Hobbs (Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson) and his elite team of federal agents. They have been tasked with catching Dom and Brian, and returning them to the USA for trial. The team has never faced anyone with his ferocity and ability.
I won’t even get into my issues with the plot. This is a balls to the wall action film and never for a second does it deviate. Justin Lin has a modicum of tension, and a HUGE plot twist at the end, but he knows this film has to be better than the others. What had been before has to be topped, or Fast Five would be a bust. He takes that mission to heart. The car chases, gun battles, fist fights, and robberies are all amazing. I would be shocked if any film has destroyed more vehicles than Fast Five. They go through cars like Charlie Sheen does hookers and cocaine. The finale is so entertaining, even a jaded action fiend like me was amazed.
See this film in IMAX. It’s the best action film in the IMAX format since Avatar. Its not 3D, thank God, so there’s no hokiness, just a full on cinematic ass-kicking. Thanks Justin Lin, for having some cojones and making a movie the audience wanted to see. I will be first in line for your next film!
