Fast Five – Review
by john on May.03, 2011, under Reviews
You know what gets in the way of a good movie? Physics. After four attempts, the Fast and the Furious franchise finally figured that out. F’n A.
Now I have several friends who scoff at the idea of spending real money to see these. In fact, I was once squarely in that camp (emphasis on square), until my friend Jason showed me the light. I’m not a car guy. I know more about how the GPS works than the carburetor. But after a marathon of the first three movies, I was hooked.
Everyone likes fast cars, I finally realized. It’s just buried under “responsibility” or some other pusillanimous excuse ($5 word of the day). Don’t believe me? Try and watch just a single episode of Top Gear (U.K.). It’s impossible. Also, I bet the meekest of you has raced someone off the line at a red light. And every time you won, you thought, “Yep… still a bad ass.”
The Fast and the Furious movies are best experienced on the opening weekend. After the show, every engine in the parking lot revs a bit more than normal. Most cars shine from the new wax job. Tires squeal with delight around corners. Exhaust approaches your nose like the Old Spice Guy – “Hello nostrils.” Accelerator pedals start screaming, “Give it to me! Give it to me hard!” It’s all very magical.
Go see Fast Five. It’s good for your soul. And for those that haven’t missed one, stay for the credits.
Grade: A-
May 4th, 2011 on 8:43 am
I really enjoyed this one, although it was a bit of a departure from the normal formula. The emphasis was on the word “Chase” instead of “Race”. ‘Felt more like a car-based Ocean’s 11 or perhaps The Italian Job.
In any event, it was well worth the price of admission. Just don’t take it too seriously, and you might just have a good time!