Review for Fast and the Furious 5 (Fast 5ive)

Fast Five
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, and Jordana Brewster
Directed by: Justin Lin
Running Time: 130 mins

This is the fourth sequel in the very successful Universal franchise picture, Fast and the Furious. It reunites the majority of the cast that appeared in 2009's Fast and Furious. This time the majority of the action is set in Rio, as Dom and Brian are on the run from the US authorities. It doesnt take long for the movie to shift up a gear as the first 20 minutes takes place on a long stretch of road, that involves a bus and several cars. The Fast and the Furious films are known for having a big set piece opening that entertains viewers from the start. And this one is no different. After that, the action very swifly moves onto a train, again on a long stretch of track this time, and the action once again shifts up a gear. Never have I seen so much action in a Fast and Furious opening sequence before but so far so very good.

After the initial 20 minutes or so, and after the audience had a chance to sit back from the edge of their seats , the film adopts an Ocean's 11 feel -- with Dom and Brian picking out a large target to hit and needing a large team to help them do it. Welcome the supporting cast, which includes familiar faces such as Tyrese Gibson (2Fast 2Furious) and Matt Schulze (The Fast and the Furious). By this point, cast from all the previous movies are present and they can get to work. Like previous Fast movies, the plan involves using lots of fast cars, and escaping through the streets.

The actual chase scenes are done very well. By now, the guys behind the camera have perfected the driving style and quickness we have come to expect from these movies, and the tone and feel of previous Fast movies is very present. Crashes, chases and pile-ups are the order of the day, and we are treated to alot of them. There are also a lot of nice non-driving thrills. The monumental encounter between Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel is Epic, and I can already see that scooping 'Best Fight' at this years MTV Movie Awards.

The acting is what we have come to expect from Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. The addition of Johnson is a good one. For me, Johnson proved his acting worth in Faster, and I am pleased to report that he is even better here. Never over the top, and very believable.

All in all, a great addition to the Fast and the Furious franchise, this was the next natural evolution of the series, considering how the fourth one ended. Any fan of the previous films will be very satisfied, and even non-furious fans will find something in here that would be of interest, as there are more over-the-top action set pieces than normal, and interestingly, alot more character development than usual in these movies. A few nice sub-plots that holds your interest that are actually resolved rather than being introduced then forgot about.

Oh, and when the credits roll at the end, make sure you stay seated, as there is a nice suprise waiting for you afterwards.

4 out of 5 stars