
Director: Justin Lin
Writers: Chris Morgan, Gary Scott Thompson (characters)
Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson | See full cast and crew
From IMDB
H.A.R.
Fast and Furious 6
The Review:
The team returns, this time on the “good” guys side, to do vehicular battle with a group of motorized “terrorists.” With the added incentive of a believed to be dead member hanging in the balance. The high octane franchise keeps revving its engine for a sixth installment. Now, the nitrus fueled review...
The Good:
Bringing it all together! The sixth installment attempts and succeeds at pulling together loose plot threads to bring all the films in the franchise together. Furious 6, the unofficial title as the previous was Fast 5, is actually the fifth film leading into Tokyo Drift (the third film). That is right, we got some star wars backward action going on. That shouldn’t come off as a criticism. Director Lin does a magnificent job of giving resolution to fans questions as to how it all fits together. Speaking of Lin, he does a wonderful job at keeping fans interested while giving high speed action (albeit not plausible) with “heart.” It appears that the good guys are super heroes of sorts but without the special powers, unless you count souping up cars and doing physics defying extra vehicular feats as super human powers. I’d be inclined to think so. Lin infuses the “heart” being the repeated belief of the principles that family is everything and you should do whatever it takes for family.
The Cast. I was recently asked what the draw of this franchise was to so many people. I ventured my hypothesis as its racial diverse cast that does not necessarily lend itself to stereotypes. Yes, there are some acknowledged ones but they are also lampooned to great comic effect. Moreover, the actors seem to own these particular roles just as seriously as any I’ve seen. The comfortable familiarity within the actors chemistry is contagious. The women are tough and smart and do not fall into the frail and girl in distress cliche that some summer popcorn blockbusters fall into. Overall I think this is one of the major draws of these flicks.
Set Up! One of the best parts of Furious 6 to me is the set up and acknowledged seventh installment, probably coming in 2015. I can not go into detail here for that would spoil too much. However, I was getting up to stretch and use the lavatory during the initial run of the “first” credits when Big Cat (Lance) motions me to return to my seat and I was rewarded with the payoff which also is the link to Tokyo Drift. Take my advice and stay the extra five minutes to see it, which is better than ten plus minutes for any Marvel movie.
The Bad:
Contradiction. Some of this appears in the good as well as in this section. Gone is the “realism” of the very first Fast and Furious for the physics defying stunts worthy of any bond flick or cape movie. I’m not asking for accuracy, but, come on, two people sailing through the air in different directions collide and ones trajectory is not altered but takes over the others without altering it one bit. Furthermore, said individual lands on a car windshield and is safely cushioned by it. No blood or broken bones!
Another gripe is how long is that final runway? Answer, long enough!
Finally, I’d like to go back and count how many times “family” is said in this film. Just for shits and giggles.
The Ugly:
The white British high end car salesman. I won’t say anymore, you’ll see it yourself. Also, I won’t see my favorite member of this cadre anymore. Again, you’ll see.
The Wrap Up:
This was an extremely fun movie. Go see it! I’d even venture to give it a solid five out of five for being exactly what I expected it to be. A high octane popcorn-action flick. Never taking itself too seriously in the right parts and the right amount of “heart” in the other. Turn off your brain and suspend your disbelief. Movies are about escapism at its basic core. This was that and more. Even that which I found bad I still put in the good section. That should say something. (For a brief talk about this movie you can listen to episode 14 of FUNNY where Lance and I talk a little about it)
So, that’s my take. But, honestly, what do I know...I’m only half assing it!