FAST AND FURIOUS 6
Review
by John Wood
Back
in 2001, when The Fast and the Furious
was released, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker were little-known actors trying to get
a big break in Hollywood. What happened after that first film is history, but
since then the franchise has continued, globetrotting in adventures that have
ranged from worst movie of the year contenders to fun summer blockbusters. It
has never received great critical success (nor does it seem to go after it),
but the sixth film in the franchise not only tries to outdo what this vehicle
has done before – it actually manages to wreck the car up in the process.
 |
| The franchise is under the tank. |
The
plot finds all of the established characters of the last five films working
together with the police to uncover the truth about Letty (a character presumed
dead since the fourth film) who appears to be working for new criminal
mastermind Shaw. The overall plot includes billion dollar chips and secret
backstories but the film never feels like it is a bigger story then that
original synopsis.
If
you haven’t followed this franchise, it would take quite a long time to catch
you up on what has happened previously. This is a problem director Justin Lin
(who also directed the first paintball episode of Community) dives headfirst into. The opening montage catches
everyone up as best as it can, and expects you to remember all the characters
that have been introduced in the series thus far.
The
movie fails due to this. For true fans of the series, the call-backs to
previous characters really heighten the world and allow the fans to see where
everyone has gone over the years. However, this brings the film’s storyline
into a massive mess – plot threads run everywhere, and the need for all the
characters to have backstories, plans and motives ruins anytime to convincingly
set up the film’s villain Shaw (played by Luke Evans). Throwing in Dwayne
Johnson’s cop Hobbs as a main character (alongside the already extended cast)
bogs down the film and really throws off the ratio of action scenes to story.
This is bad enough by itself, but with a story this riddled with plot problems
it really disappoints.
The
action scenes themselves suffer from a need to ramp up faster. Rather than open
the film with a big action scene, the film slowly builds until they reach the
type we are expecting in the last 30 minutes. There never feels like anything
is at stake, and even when side characters crash in the opening action beats,
there are no real consequences. When the action ramps up in the final two
sequences, the film does throw everything it has into it. But by that point,
it’s too little, too late.
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| His character is better on the sidelines but Dwayne is still highly watchable. |
In
2011, when Fast and Furious 5 (or Fast 5 in the states) came out, it
mainly ditched the street racing story that was so prevalent in previous titles
and made an Ocean’s Eleven-style
film. It was the series highpoint, and following it would be a major challenge.
It’s a shame to say that Lin has gone back to old tricks, like those found in
the terrible fourth instalment. However, the now-expected credits sequence in
this film must be seen, as it is probably the film’s highlight and seems to
lead to a possible series finale. Lin won’t be returning to direct, but has
instead passed the duty onto Saw
helmer James Wan.
Perhaps
a new pair of hands at the wheel is just what this franchise needs to kick it
up a gear?
With
a hole-riddled script, terrible supporting characters and a tedious opening act,
this movie definitely didn’t feel fast, but it did leave me furious.
Rating:
FIZZLE
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