FAST AND FURIOUS

Fast and Furious features the foursome who starred in the first film of the car-crazy franchise, The Fast and the Furious, back together again for the first time since that 2001 hit. But the fact Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster reunite for this third sequel isn't enough to make this latest Fast movie outgun the previous three films. Unfortunately for Fast fans, this one runs out of gas early on, hits speed bump after speed bump in its mid-section, and then stalls itself out way before reaching the finish line.

The Story

Dom (Diesel) is still wanted by the law when we catch up with him and Letty (Rodriguez) at the beginning of Fast and Furious. Fugitives from justice, Dom and his main squeeze/accomplice are hiding out in the Dominican Republic, hanging with a new gang and make a living outside the law. But when Dom gets word the cops are closing in on his illegal operation, he hightails it out of there – and out of Letty's life – so that his girl and his buddies won't be sucked down with him.

Michelle Rodriguez in 'Fast and Furious.'

© Universal Pictures

Of course leaving your girl behind and sneaking off in the middle of the night without even saying good-bye is never a good idea. When Dom leaves, Letty heads back to the U.S. and that's what ultimately prompts Dom to return home, despite the fact he's still a wanted man. Something drastic occurs (no spoilers here) and Dom's sister Mia (Brewster) needs her brother by her side. And once Dom's back on United States turf he quickly discovers he has the same goal as his old nemesis, FBI Agent Brian O'Conner (Walker). That leads to lots of posturing, angry exchanges, and zooming around in fast cars for the most ludicrous of reasons.

The Bottom Line

There's not a single member of the large ensemble cast who's able to rise above what they were given with the Fast and Furious script. And although it should be fun to see Walker and Diesel square off, that joy is ruined by an absurd plot that makes little or no sense.

Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster share a quiet moment in 'Fast and Furious.'

© Universal Pictures

It would be sort of okay to forget about applying a logical storyline to Fast and Furious given that most people who pay for a ticket to a film of The Fast and the Furious franchise aren't doing so to watch Shakespeare performed onscreen. No, you buy your ticket, you expect some fantastic, white-knuckle car chases. Toss a few scantily clad women into the background of a scene and then let the engines rev and the tires burn rubber. That's what Fast fans are really after, but too little of that is delivered in Fast and Furious.