unfortunately that title is probably taken tenfold in reviews already– I haven’t checked yet, but I find it hard to think of any reviewer who will say they film is good… the first one at least had amazing star power in Diesel, but Walker is pretty bland — better this time out, but still bland… and the new partner “Tyrese” is just not enough of a presence to make things work — there are half a dozen other guys that could appeal to the same crowd and be way better in the role — not that it’s a role really worth playing — this is a sequel in every respect and while Gone in 60 Seconds was a cheap play at the Fast and Furious crowd at least it had a pedigree and a cast of interesting stars — I didn’t like that film and I can’t help but think it was better than this one!
For those who need a run down plot — I mean a run down of the plot — Paul Walker plays an ex-cop still on the run after aiding and abetting his “mark” in an undercover operation that was the first film. Now he’s a staple of the Miami street racing scene. Caught by the feds he is to go undercover as a driver in order to put his past behind him. He, in turn, enlists the help of an old ex-con buddy as another driver. The two men then have to infiltrate and take down the bad guys while driving cool cars and scoping out hot babes. One of those hot babes is Eva Mendes, an undercover operative already inside — the question is — has she gone over to the dark side?
The problems with the plot – aside from the fact that it has been done repeatedly since the 1970’s – include the fact that it is quite possibly the least believable rendition of it I have seen in years. Any attempt the script makes to create doubt about this character or that is undermined by either poor acting (especially by Mendes and Tyrese) or poor directing — or both! The marketing hasn’t helped — since the only tense moment in the film should have been one in which you can’t be sure the heroes will escape – or at least how they will escape — from a huge number of police, but if you’ve seen any of the commercials or trailers you know exactly what will happen, so there is absolutely no tension in the film at all!
On top of that the film can’t decide whether it is a B-movie or not. In a B-movie, scenes of torture are fairly common, but it as incongruous with the style of this film. This film has one that could have come straight out of Action Jackson or an old Chuck Norris or even Stephen Segal flick. For a minute it made me think that 2 Fast 2 Furious could have been a great trashy film, but then the scene was over and I was back in mediocre world.
The action is often quite spectacular, but the scenes in between come across as filler. It’s like having a sandwich of the finest fresh bread with imitation Spam in the middle.
Next week Dumb and Dumberer, Hollywood Homicide and Rugrats Go Wild! I don’t know if any of them will be capable of knocking F&F2 out of #1 But I hope so.
2 Fast 2 Furious was budgeted at $76 Million US — $52.1M opening weekend box office, making it yet another in a long line of summer hits that weren’t really worth it. If there is to be a sequel, Paul Walker has been quoted as saying he was not optioned and will have to be negotiated with. Watch for Tyrese to be the lead in the next one (or the one after that) and a new recruit be brought in for Walker — this is one of those series that will slowly dwindle into direct to video as the profits gradually decrease from movie to movie.
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