Spring Break
REVIEW: Long-awaited sequel has fast-paced action
3 out of 5 stars
Paresh Jha
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: Focus
More often than not, general audiences and critics alike (myself included) forget that some movies are not meant to be very deep or cerebral. Some movies have a different purpose entirely. The "Fast and Furious" franchise is one of those series that does not aim to be anything more than a straightforward action film. Sure there are plot points of love, betrayal and all that, but that is simply supplementary to the main task at hand. The original film in the series was a unique film focusing on fast cars and crazy action. It was especially different because it focused on the rather alluring and interesting activity of street racing. It was also a beloved film due to the likeable cast and pairing of Paul Walker and Vin Diesel as the leads.
The main reason this fourth installment to the franchise, "Fast and Furious" works has a lot to do with nostalgia for the first film. However, had they simply made the same type of movie as the first one it would have just been a poor rehash. Instead, director Justin Lin utilized the death of a character as a plot point to bring everyone back together in a revenge/redemption story. It sometimes seems a little forced, but it works to bring back Paul Walker and Vin Diesel in a story that pits them as both enemies and allies, just like the first one.
Apart from the basic story, the action is still pulse-pounding and ridiculously fast. This is the main reason why anyone cares about this movie. The action is impactful and very stylish. The requisite first race of the film between Vin Diesel and Paul Walker is particularly thrilling. It was a genuine surprise once the ending of that race was revealed. The very first action sequence was also very well done. It would have had more of an effect if they did not show the whole thing in the trailer already.
The parts where "Fast and Furious" falls short are the portions when the movie tries to take itself too seriously. On the whole, it does a decent job of realizing itself as a simply action film but sometimes the dialogue runs a bit too long and it ends up being overly cliché. It is no fault of the actors, but some of these scenes are not meant to be Shakespearean and yet the director insists on trying to milk the scene for all its worth. Unfortunately, his poor judgment calls force the film to falter on more than one occasion. Regardless, "Fast and Furious" works as a great action film and nothing more. Along with the reteaming of Diesel and Walker, this movie appeals to the excited little kid in all of us.
The main reason this fourth installment to the franchise, "Fast and Furious" works has a lot to do with nostalgia for the first film. However, had they simply made the same type of movie as the first one it would have just been a poor rehash. Instead, director Justin Lin utilized the death of a character as a plot point to bring everyone back together in a revenge/redemption story. It sometimes seems a little forced, but it works to bring back Paul Walker and Vin Diesel in a story that pits them as both enemies and allies, just like the first one.
Apart from the basic story, the action is still pulse-pounding and ridiculously fast. This is the main reason why anyone cares about this movie. The action is impactful and very stylish. The requisite first race of the film between Vin Diesel and Paul Walker is particularly thrilling. It was a genuine surprise once the ending of that race was revealed. The very first action sequence was also very well done. It would have had more of an effect if they did not show the whole thing in the trailer already.
The parts where "Fast and Furious" falls short are the portions when the movie tries to take itself too seriously. On the whole, it does a decent job of realizing itself as a simply action film but sometimes the dialogue runs a bit too long and it ends up being overly cliché. It is no fault of the actors, but some of these scenes are not meant to be Shakespearean and yet the director insists on trying to milk the scene for all its worth. Unfortunately, his poor judgment calls force the film to falter on more than one occasion. Regardless, "Fast and Furious" works as a great action film and nothing more. Along with the reteaming of Diesel and Walker, this movie appeals to the excited little kid in all of us.
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