Fast and Furious 6
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris
Directed By: Justin Lin
Reviewed by Danielle Muir
[rating: 3.5/5]
With number seven already on its merry way, it’s obvious the studios know a winning franchise when they grasp one. Cars, girls, weapons, wisecracks, the Fast and Furious franchise really squeezes in everything it can use to entertain, and so far so good (bar the popular opinion that Tokyo Drift doesn’t exist). Surprisingly, the franchise’s audience spans the breadth of The Rock’s torso – with young and old delighting in burning rubber and explosions across the globe.
Number six saves the spectacular for the final two set-pieces – which mind-blowingly encapsulates everything anyone could want from a Fast and Furious film. Ending on such a firecracker is a clever move, as instead of leaving with the unsatisfactory feeling burgeoning in the first three-quarters, you leave adrenalized, having witnessed action on acid.
Continuing the transformation from cars to heist with cars, the gang’s back for some ‘vehicular warfare’ – being contracted by hulking cop Hobbs (Johnson) to take down a criminal organization whose primary weapon of choice is, you guessed it, pimped out cars. If Toretto (Diesel) and his crew complete the task, they’re rewarded with full pardons. Only one problem – Letty (Rodruigez) is back from the dead, and working with the other side.
Fast and Furious Six’s plot doesn’t over complicate – it knows what it’s designed for which is an admirable quality. However I found myself becoming tired of the immense number of hand-to-hand combat scenes, all featuring Vin Diesel, when there had only been one opening car piece. Where was the burning rubber! Sure, rough and tumble is well and good, but I’m watching a Fast and Furious film.
All the performances are hilarious, everyone plays it absurdly over-the-top (especially The Rock who hams it up as the ultimate beefcake) and has a ball. And the tension between Diesel and rogue Rodruigez adds a nice saucy element to the plot. It’s just that not a lot of major events occur until we reach the ending on steroids. The pay-off is worth the wait in copious spades, but still doesn’t mask the fact that I was watching a Fast and Furious film and I was slightly bored.
Fast and Furious Six is certainly a decent addition to the franchise and reflects that bat-out-of-hell craziness the films have become so popular for. There’s also a scene that set’s it up brilliantly for number seven – which will tie over fans until 2014.
