Fast Five (2011) PG-13

Well folks, I'm back. I've had a bit of a case of writers block as of late, but those days are over. I have five reviews just aching to get written. This is number one. Fast Five will only be in theaters for a few more weeks, but now is as good of a time as any to check it out. I was quite skeptical about this film going in, despite good reviews. The last two Fast and Furious films were pretty awful and Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast & Furious) was back as director. However, you get a sense early on that Lin is finally onto something, thanks in large part to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (The Other Guys, Get Smart). The whole gang is back once again in this fifth installment of the popular racing franchise. What sets this film apart from the rest is that Chris Morgan's (Wanted, Cellular) script focuses more on character development and high-flyin' action than street racing.

Once enemies, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) join forces yet again. The film picks up right where the fourth film left off. Dom is being transported to a maximum security prison after being sentenced to 25 years to life. However, Brian and Dom's sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) have other plans. As you all know, Mia is also Brian's longtime girlfriend. About a minute into this thing you can tell this one's going to be different from all the rest. Brian and Mia cause the bus to crash, freeing Dom. They make it look awfully easy, but then again they are good at what they do. Nobody is badly injured, but now a nationwide manhunt is put out on Dom, Brian and Mia. They manage to escape to Rio de Janeiro before things get too hot and heavy.

They take shelter in Rio with their old friend Vince (Matt Schulze). Vince and Brian aren't buddy-buddy for obvious reasons (see The Fast and the Furious for more information). The gang needs to start bringing in some cash real fast, so they find a job with some real shady dudes. The job is simple: steal three cars off a moving train. What ensues is one of the better scenes of 2011. The aforementioned shady dudes turn on the gang, but they manage to escape. Mia and Vince get away rather easily, but Dom and Brian go flying off a cliff only to somehow survive.

Brian believes Vince was the one who turned on them, but Dom convinces him otherwise. Meanwhile, the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service sends badass agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and his team to Rio to retrieve Dom and his crew. Hobbs and his attractive partner Elena (Elsa Pataky) aren't far behind their trail.

Vince admits that one of the cars they stole contains a computer chip worth more than 100 million dollars. On one hand, they have federal agents hunting them down and on another they have Rio's most dangerous mob-boss hunting down this chip. Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) owns the town of Rio, as well as the entire police force. Dom and Brian decide that in order to get out of Rio they must make a huge payday. They aim at Reyes' vault located inside the police station. They will need help however, so they assemble a team. The team consists of Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Gisele (Gal Gadot), Han (Sung Kang), Tego (Tego Calderon) and Rico (Don Omar). The majority of these characters you will recognize from other Fast and Furious films; others are new. It's a treat to finally see everyone together for a change.

The second half of the film may seem like an Ocean's Eleven/Twelve/Thirteen ripoff (which it most certainly is), but this film packs a heavy punch. They put together a foolproof plan, but bit by bit it falls apart. Not to mention they have agent Hobbs breathing down their necks and they're getting shot at by Reyes' men. Brian gets unexpected, yet wonderful news when Mia admits that she is pregnant. The gang rejoices, but they now begin to second guess the heist. What's more important? Family or money? Well, money of course.

The entire cast is on their A game from start to finish. I'm not the biggest Walker (Running Scared, Joy Ride) or Diesel (Boiler Room, Knockaround Guys) fan, but they're usually firing on all cylinders when on screen together. Brewster (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. The Faculty) can't act, but thankfully she doesn't have too many lines. Gibson (Four Brothers, Annapolis) and Ludacris (Crash, No Strings Attached) have some really funny dialogue together, which was a bit unexpected. Sung Kang (Live Free or Die Hard, Pearl Harbor) is most certainly an up-and-comer. The biggest and best part of this film is The Rock. His biceps are pulsating and drenched in sweat, it's quite hilarious. His face is never not covered in sweat, as sweat drips down off his gigantic go-tee. He is simply put, a beast in this film.

If you haven't seen this film already, then you must. If you haven't seen the first two installments, then you must. If you haven't seen the third and fourth films, then you're a lucky person. If you haven't seen any Fast and Furious films, then I'd still recommend this film. It's action-packed, loud, witty, funny and altogether a wonderful thrill-ride. There are plenty of good films out there right now, and it's not often I can say a fourth sequel is worth your while. Yes, there are stupendous moments here and there, and it is a bit overly long. But you'll be lost in the nonstop action and the visual effects.
B