Movie Review: Fast Five

Brian O’Conner(Paul Walker), Dom Toretto(Vin Diesel) and Mia Toretto(Jordana Brewster) are fugitives from the law and now living in Rio, Brazil. In order to raise money, they take part in a car heist organized by an old friend. The heist involves stealing three cars transported in a train. When they break into the train, Brian finds out the car are tagged by DEA. Soon, the proceedings turns sour resulting in the death of DEA agents. Mia escapes in a Ford GT40 while Brian and Dom are captured by a group of armed men.

While in captivity, Brian and Dom meets Hernan Reyes(Joaquim de Almeida). Reyes, hiding behind legitimate organizations, controls all illegitimate businesses in Rio. Reyes wants the GT40 back. Brian and Dom overpowers their captors and escapes. Once back with Mia, Brian and Dom tries to finds out a computer chip inside the GT40 holding vital information about Reyes’ illegal businesses.

When Brian and Dom contemplates the next steps, they are attacked by a team of US DSS agents led by Luke Hobbs(Dwayne Johnson) in retaliation to the murder of DEA agents. Brian, Mia and Dom manages to escape. Once back to safety, Brian and Dom decides to do one last job. This time, they intend to rob Reyes. In order execute this grand plan, they form a team by inviting their old friends like Roman Pearce(Tyrese Gibson), Tej Parker(Ludacris), Han Seol-Oh(Sung Kang), Gisele Yashar(Gal Gadot) and two others. Meanwhile Hobbs inducts a local officer Elena Neves(Elsa Pataky) into his team.

Justin Lin directs this entertaining action movie. Justin’s cast is full of bad actors and the script is ridden with clichés. But, Justin successfully masks these handicaps with excellent action pieces and music. The well orchestrated introductions of the main protagonists and funny liners sans any human emotions induces awe at times and guffaws at other times. The director throws in a trust, betrayals, family values, high principles and what not into the movie. Luckily, when the tempo slows down with these infusions, he throws in a fight or a chase scene to make the viewer sit up. The highlights of the movie are the first car heist followed by two protagonists falling into the canyon, the chase through rooftops of Rio Favela, Vin Diesel-Dwayne Johnson slugfest and the final chase through the streets of Rio. The CGI work is unobtrusive and does not dampen the viewing pleasure.

Go for it. Watch this one only on the big screen. Make sure you are with friends and intoxicated. You will enjoy the ride.

Language: English

Genre: Action

Rating: ***

Tags: Movies,Vin Diesel,Paul Walker,Dwayne Johnson,Tyrese Gibson,Ludacris,Justin Lin,Action