Review: '2 Fast' pure high-test formula
The movie isn't much, but how 'bout those cars?
By Paul Clinton
CNN Reviewer
 |
Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson star in "2 Fast 2 Furious."
Story Tools
|
(CNN) -- "The Fast and The Furious" made $144 million in domestic box office, so a sequel to the 2001 hit was practically mandated by law. The follow-up, "2 Fast 2 Furious," is just exactly what you'd expect. Yes, it's fast, and yes, it's furious.
However, there is one big difference. Vin Deisel, who became instantly famous after "The Fast and The Furious," declined to reprise his star-making role. Which leaves the movie in the hands of his co-star, Paul Walker, who has yet to become a household name. Not that it really matters: the cars are the stars of the show.
There is a bit of a story. As in the first film, Walker plays cop Brian O'Conner. As "2 Fast" opens, O'Conner has been kicked out of the Los Angeles Police Department for letting a big-rig hijacker escape, and is now living in Miami. But he has not left his love of speed and hot cars behind.
When he's picked up by the Miami cops for illegal street racing, he's given the choice of jail time or once again going undercover. Of course, he takes the undercover gig -- otherwise, this would be a very short movie -- but insists on picking his own partner. His choice is his boyhood buddy, ex-con Roman Pearce, played by singer-model -- and now -actor -- Tyrese Gibson.
The pair is sent to work for a flashy executive, Carter Verone (Cole Hauser), who is actually in the business of laundering money. Their contact on the inside is the beautiful Eva Mendes, another undercover cop posing as Verone's girlfriend.
Plot? There's a plot?
Paul Walker makes contact with an undercover cop played by Eva Mendes in "2 Fast 2 Furious."
|
|
The plot, such as it is, is hard to swallow, but with this type of film, the plot is not the point. Besides, you'll be offered plenty of high-octane fuel during the film to wash it all down.
So what is the point? Scene after scene of incredible car chases and lots of incredibly beautiful women wearing incredibly tight and revealing clothing -- that's the point.
Director John Singleton (1991's "Boyz N The Hood" and 2000's "Shaft") knows just when and where to push the buttons of his target audience. Leaving nothing to chance, the producers also commissioned a survey by Teen Research Unlimited, which specializes exclusively in teenagers. The results of the study showed teens in the fall of 2002 and the spring of 2003 named "The Fast and The Furious" as their all-time favorite movie. (Make your own joke here.)
Therefore, it's no surprise that "2 Fast 2 Furious" puts the pedal to the metal and grinds out more action per second than most films do in two hours.
And that action is spectacular. The car chases are actually real, using specialized rigs, filming techniques and cameras. No computer-generated images were used, and at speeds routinely exceeding 100 miles per hour, that's truly remarkable.
Everything else a low priority
|
The point of the movie: cars. Lots and lots of cars, racing up and down major boulevards.
|
The script apparently was not a priority, nor was the wardrobe -- such as it is -- for the movie's actresses. Most of the film's budget went into the cars.
Hundreds of super-charged vehicles were needed, and some of them are state of the art. The Nissan Skyline R-34 is not even available in the United States yet (although Walker owns one in real life), and the Mitsubishi Evolution 7 just came out this year.
Walker and Gibson seem to be having a great time together, even though it's impossible to believe the plot's assertion that these two grew up in the same neighborhood. And despite trite dialogue -- Walker, trying out a new car: "Let's see what this thing can do" -- this movie will satisfy most fans of the original film.
It's pure formula from start to finish, but that was obviously the goal from start to finish.
Teenagers, start your engines: summer has arrived.
