Judy Thorburn's Movie Reviews
Fast & Furious 6 | Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker, Chris Bridges, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Luke Evans | Review
- Details
- Category: Judy Thorburn
- Published on 29 May 2013
- Written by Judy Thorburn
Judy Thorburn
Fast & Furious 6
There isn't much to say about the 6th installment of the Fast & Furious franchise that hasn't been said about the previous ones. Once again, its all about showcasing fast cars in adrenaline pumping chases/races and over the top stunts. And in this installment they are taken to even greater heights with more spectacular special effects under the direction of Justin Lin, back at the helm for the fourth, and he says, final time.
Vin Diesel leads the returning cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker, Chris “Ludicrus” Bridges, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Elsa Pataky, Gal Gadot, and Michelle Rodriguez in yet another episode of the action packed,worldwide, blockbuster franchise. By now the ensemble cast can practically sleep walk through their roles and it sure looks like they did.
Since their last adventure in Rio that nabbed Dominic Toretto (a bored looking Diesel) and his team $100 million, as fugitives from the law, they've been in hiding in various parts of the world. That soon changes when Dom is tracked down and approached by his former adversary, Federal Agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) who shows Dom a photo taken a week earlier of Dom's lady love, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) who was presumed dead. Conveniently reintroduced as suffering from amnesia, Letty has been recruited by a British criminal mastermind named Owen Shaw (Luke Evans) as part of his operation to steal components for a device that would knock out all communications of an entire country and sell it to the highest bidder.
In exchange for finding and stopping Shaw, Hobbs promises to give Dom and his buddies full pardons so they can return home. It is an offer he can't refuse, so Dom agrees to work with Hobbs and his new partner Riley (newcomer, real-life martial artist Gina Carano) to bring down Shaw and save Letty. But first, Dom must gather together his team of car racing outlaws including former cop and new dad, Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker) so they can head off to London to begin their mission that also takes them to such international locales as Spain and Moscow.
That's about it for the plot. Like each episode before, there isn't anything to wrap your brain around. The acting is wooden, the dialogue is dumb, including Dom's repetitive mention about how he and his buddies have a special bond and “family” code. No need to pound it in our heads. By now, we already got it.
The way I see it, Fast and Furious 6 is nothing more than mindless entertainment that has nothing to do with reality. Not only do many of the action scenes defy the laws of physics; ie gravity, viewers are forced to suspend disbelief and accept whatever is thrown their way, no matter how ridiculous it may be. One sequence of massive destruction involves a tank on a freeway bridge where cars in its path go flying or are crushed, yet Dom is so indestructible nothing can stop him from connecting with Letty as both fly though the air at incredible heights and speeds, in what in reality, would lead to their death. Of course, both miraculously land unscathed, safely on a car. Then there is the totally absurd, climatic sequence that follows our heroes racing to stop a gigantic cargo plane from taking off on what has to be the longest runway in the world.
Needless to say Fast and Furious is strictly a testosterone fueled flick targeted for male audiences who get a kick out of watching turbo charged fast cars race at incredible speeds, men engaged in body slamming, hand to hand combat and non stop action. Of course,there is also the obligatory girl on girl fight between two bass ass chicks, Rodriguez's and Carano's characters, that takes place in a crowd filled London train station.
In my opinion enough is enough. But no. The Fast and Furious franchise doesn't appear to be coming to an end. In the very last scene, we are left with a teasing cliffhanger that sets up the new villain for the next chapter.
If you find it all very appealing, then by all means, fasten your seat belts and go along for yet another fast and furious ride. Just remember to leave your thinking cap at home.