You don't need to care about car culture or have seen any of the Fast and Furious movies to enjoy Fast Five. This action-heist film is packed with excitement, great characters, and dialogue so good "poetry" feels like too ordinary a word. It's not often the fifth entry in a franchise is the best but this series continues to defy all expectations.
After rescuing Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) from his prison sentence, Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) join him in Rio de Janeiro where they run afoul of a ruthless drug lord (Joaquim de Almeida). To get even, the trio assembles a team of experts that can help them steal $100 million from him. Their operation is complicated by Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), a.U.S. Diplomatic Security Service agent determined to capture the fugitives.
This is a sequel done right. Director Justin Lin retains everyone you liked from before and then gives you more. This is a car-based heist film. Toretto and Brian are the drivers. Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) is the fast-talker. Tej Parker (Chris โLudacrisโ Bridges) is the man with the connections. Han Seoul-Oh (Sun Kang) blends in anywhere. Gisele Yashar (Gal Gadot) is the weapons expert. The team is topped with Mia and Leo & Santos (Tego Calderรณn and Don Omar). We even see the return of Matt Schulze as Vince! Most pictures would struggle to fit so many favorites, plus the introduction of some new ones (Weโll get to Dwayne Johnson in a moment) and a plot into a running time of 106 minutes. This film manages to get them all in there in satisfying amounts.
Written by Chris Morgan (whose portfolio is admittedly mixed) and directed by Justin Lin, this is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure. Weโre no longer talking about life being lived a quarter of a mile at a time. Instead, it's long chases where people are crashing through windows and bullets fly. The climax? Itโs a race down the streets so awesome you don't care how absurd it becomes. The film is simply too entertaining. The instant it's over, you crave more. I never wouldโve expected that little gearhead of a movie directed by Rob Cohen way back in 2001 to evolve into this.
One cannot talk about Fast Fiveย without discussing the Luke Hobbs character. Even when he isnโt standing next to his partner, Rio police officer Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky), heโs a giant of muscle and personality. His lines are gold; one-liners so good most action films would be blessed to have one or two. Make sure you donโt forget a notepad and pencil when popping this beauty into your Blu-ray player so you can write them down.
Fast Fiveย is so much fun, and itโs so unexpectedly entertaining those who didnโt drool over the sleek engines and squealing tires in the previous Fast & Furious movies may want to go back and check if their opinions on them have suddenly changed. Some will try to justify this as a mere guilty pleasure because, if you think about it, this part was a little unbelievable, and then there was that other thing... but donโt. Do not waste your time considering the physics of what takes place. Instead, admire how much bang for your buck you get. Fast Fiveย is well worth your time and likely a new favorite for many. (Theatrical version on Blu-ray, September 15, 2018)