MOVIE REVIEW

2 Fast 2 Furious  (2003)

Starring: Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes
Director: John Singleton

Rating: PG-13

Studio: Universal

Release Date: 6.06.03

Review Posted: 6.11.03

Spoilers: Minor

By Sara Michelle Fetters

"2 Silly, 2 Stupid and Yet 2 Much Fun"

I wasn’t a fan of The Fast and the Furious, the surprise B-movie sensation of 2001. Sure some of the film’s racing sequences were fun 2 watch, and I just had 2 be impressed with the deep, sexy machismo of Vin Diesel (A Man Apart), but overall Rob Cohen’s (xXx) film was just 2 silly and stupid 2 be believed. It didn’t help that lead Paul Walker (Joy Ride) was a walking stiff in the movie, a flavorless center 2 what should have been a tasty guilty pleasure.

So, imagine how excited I was about seeing the sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious, considering my favorite character from the first film declined 2 return. Instead I’d have 2 suffer through another 2 hours of silliness featuring the blandly handsome Walker. Happily, those fears turned out 2 be unfounded as 2 Fast 2 Furious is far more entertaining then it has any right 2 be. It’s 2 silly, 2 dumb and yet undeniably 2 entertaining 2 really care. It may not be high art but as B-grade action movies are concerned, this could be the high-octane cream of the crop for 2002.

After letting his mark off the hook while undercover in Los Angeles during the preceding adventure, Brian O’Connor (Walker, no where near as bland as he was the first time around) finds himself eking out a minor existence as the premier driver in the Miami underground street racing circuit. No longer a cop, O’Connor isn’t exactly thrilled when customs agent Markham (James Remar, What Lies Beneath) and former boss agent Bilkins (Thom Barry, The Rules of Engagement) have him arrested and offer a deal that will effectively erase all the black marks on the former officer’s rap sheet.

Faced with no other choice, O’Connor agrees 2 help customs go after Miami drug kingpin Carter Verone (Cole Hauser, Tears of the Sun) by going undercover as a driver hired 2 escort a large amount of cash 2 an awaiting getaway vehicle. Enlisting the help of former friend Roman Pearce (Tyrese, Baby Boy, who is quite good in a thinly written role) – he blames O’Connor for allowing him 2 rot in a California jail cell – the duo is asked 2 put their driving skills 2 the test in adventures involving dirty cops, vicious killers and brain dead street hoodlums. 2 top it off, Roman is positive his compatriot is falling for their contact inside Verone’s organization, the beautiful Monica Clemente (Eva Mendes, Training Day). Only problem: she may have been turned by the drug lord putting their lives in immediate danger.

It all culminates in a race 2 the airport, featuring more cars and desperate driving than any film since The Blues Brothers. In fact, there are some testosterone-enhanced moves that just have 2 be seen 2 be believed, especially one particularly inconceivable and eye-popping stunt involving a cherry American muscle car and speeding getaway boat. It’s silly and over-the-top in the extreme, but in the best Roger Corman B-movie fashion, it’s also quite amusing.

The credit for that has 2 go 2 director John Singleton (Baby Boy, Shaft). One of the most unlikely choices I’ve ever heard of 2 take over the directing reigns of a silly prepubescent action series, he does wonders with what is essentially a dumb-downed screenplay that wouldn’t have passed muster on television’s Miami Vice. Keeping the foot planted squarely on the accelerator, 2 Fast 2 Furious moves like nothing else this year, trying desperately 2 keep your mind off of the banality of the plot with more sound and this side of a smash-mouth derby.

Granted, that means Singleton’s technical team are getting a real workout, and they all seem 2 be at the top of their game. In fact, Bruce Cannon (Baby Boy) and Dallas Puett’s (Star Trek: Nemesis) editing, Matthew F. Leonetti’s (Rush Hour 2) cinematography and the work done by the sound and special effects departments are so top notch, so expertly crafted, I found myself getting continually lost in the crank and clank of all the speeding and crashing vehicles flying around the screen. It’s astounding and made me wish I could turn off all of the dialogue and music and just watch the film devoid of any other artifice other than the sweeping whoosh of the racing cars.

Granted, that fact alone should make it clear how silly and downright stupid the screenplay really is. If any film demonstrated more obviously the currently bankrupt state of Hollywood, this has 2 be it. So much money has been spent on making 2 Fast 2 Furious sound and look like no other picture that someone up high forgot that it might also be important 2 make sure the story actually engages one’s attention in order 2 make all the effort worth while. It is only by sheer luck and the talents of Singleton playing it all like an extremely interactively immersed video game that the film even succeeds remotely at all in the first place. And while I really don’t want to reward such fortunateness with a good review, I had such a good time I’m really left with no choice.

I guess I shouldn’t feel bad about that for it is much nicer 2 be pleasantly surprised by a potentially bad movie than it is 2 be completely let down by one with higher aspirations. In this case, 2 Fast 2 Furious is just 2 much fun 2 be ignored.

Rating: 2.5 out of 4

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