Fast & Furious 6
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Luke Evans
Director: Justin Lin
Rating: 4/5
It may have been 2001 when the Fast & Furious franchise raced onto the big screen for the first time but it was Fast 5, which was released two years ago, that is the most successful instalment yet.
It is unusual that a decade old franchise gets better and better but that is exactly what has happened here as Fast & Furious 6 is another get addition to the series.
Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the run has left their lives incomplete.
Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez).
The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London. In return they will get full pardons so they can return home and make their families whole again.
What made this franchise so successful is it’s ability to be able to give more than just a bunch of guys driving cars very fast; you nave feel like you are watching the first film for the sixth time.
Fast 5 gave us a heist element while Fast & Furious 6 has more of an action element than ever before with some great set pieces as and some terrific fight scenes.
By adding these elements there is a fresh feel to this movie - which is something that is so hard to achieve - not to mention that it is bigger and more daring than ever before.
Of course there are elements that are totally preposterous but that is what makes this movie so exciting. While it is all a little over the top you can’t help but get swept away with it all.
Naturally you do have to suspend your belief but if you are able to do that then Fast & Furious 6 is a hell of a ride.
I have always enjoyed Vin Diesel in the role of Dominic Toretto as he is a man who has a code; family is the most important thing. And yet there is a menace to him that makes him a very intriguing character.
Diesel and Walker clearly have a huge love for these characters and this franchise and you can see that they are having a total ball from start to finish - not to mention that they have a terrific chemistry.
It’s also great to see Dwayne Johnson back as Hobbs as he Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson help inject the movie with some great comedy moments; Gibson has always been huge comic relief for this franchise and he is on top form in this film.
The set pieces in this movie are fantastic; the scenes with the tank and the plane being moments that really do stand out. Director Justin Lin is not afraid to take the action moments to the next level and he really does pull them off in fine style.
Fast & Furious 6 is a high octane movie that will keep audiences on the edge of their seat. Diesel and co have come to understand what fans of this franchise want to see and that is what keeps audiences coming back time and time again.
I am already looking forward to the seventh movie - the villain for that film was set up very nicely in a brief post-credits scene.
Fast & Furious 6 is out now.