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| Sorry Vin. You are nowhere near as tall or badass as Johnson. |
The plot of the film is
multifaceted. After helping Dominic Toretto (Diesel) break out of prison Mia
Toretto (Brewster) and Brian O'Conner (Walker) go “on the lam” with him.
Eventually they all arrive in Brazil where they accept a “job” stealing cars to
make some fast cash. The job goes wrong but the trio manages to escape- and
with one of the stolen cars no less. Eventually they discover a microchip in
the car. The chip contains details on Hernan Reyes’ illegal operations. Reyes (de
Almeida) is a wealthy but shady businessman who also happens to be a drug
trafficker. When he finds out that they have his chip and are aware of the location
of $100,000,000 he wants them eliminated. To make things worse the trio have Diplomatic
Security Service (DSS) agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) chasing them. Under duress
the trio hatches a plan to steal Reyes' $100 million dollar fortune and evade the
resourceful Hobbs. This sets the stage for a bevy of action-packed encounters
and a climactic ending!
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker play close
friends in the film and their chemistry seems as such. Between the high adrenaline
action sequences they share insecurities and hope for a better future. While
the dialogue between them is less than stimulating both actors do their best
with what the writers gave them. Joaquim de Almeida plays his part to a T. He’s
totally convincing in his role as a ruthless drug dealer who wants any threats
crushed immediately. Speaking of convincing Dwayne Johnson is as well. He was
smart, intimidating, powerful, and above all scene stealing. I thought his
performance should be applauded. Although, I don’t see Vin Diesel beating him
up in a fight… sorry I had to add that last part. My expectations were
definitely met for this film and the actors’ portrayals.
The genre of this film really has
an effect on the film techniques used. Special effects and stunts are a necessity
for Fast Five. The action sequences
are first rate; they’re certainly on par with filmmakers like Jerry Bruckheimer
and Michael Bay. It’s just a pity they couldn’t use their big budget to give
more depth to the actors. Establishing shots are a big part of this film. Rio
de Janeiro is a jewel and many times we are treated to breathtaking aerial
views. The music is modern, lively, and speaks to an international audience.
The song “Danza Kuduro” by Don Omar & Lucenzo is a great example. It sums
up what Fast Five is… a fast-paced carnival
selling sexuality, violence, and commercialism. With that said, the music is
well placed and very appropriate.
My decisive
factor for going to see Fast Five is
simple. It’s a badass movie with one badass hombre named Dwayne Johnson. I
thought he was the heart and soul of the film. He adds depth to a script that
suffers from cheesy one-liners and a world where feminism never existed. People
who are going to see this movie are not expecting Shakespeare. It’s like a Die Hard film on some levels. Audiences
don’t always want caviar. Sometimes a deliciously greasy cheeseburger is
satisfying and what we want. This is that cheeseburger.
8 out of 10
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