I haven't seen The Fast & The Furious in many a year. But in anticipation of the upcoming 4th movie in the franchise, reuniting the original cast, I thought I'd check it out again.
And I'm surprised at how well it still plays. Essetially a lesser-remake of Point Break, substituting boy-racer culture for surfing, it follows a cop (a solid but vacant) Paul Walker, infiltrate (a typically magnetic) Vin Diesel's gang of petrol heads.
The stunts and set-pieces are well choreographed and shot, with the lorry-jacking sequences standing out. Director Rob Cohen revitalises his style with some glossy photography, and neat stylistic touches (the racing 'light speed' effect / the rollercoaster ride thought the engine).
It also successfully gives an insight into an unfamiler world, with the meetings of street racers and enthusiasts coming off as authentic.
On every level, this doesn't measure up to Point Break (Walker will never be as good as Keanu!!!) but its a damn solid ride. As I recall it came out of nowhere to bitch slap Driven, the year that it opened. In retrospect, that gap for that year's top racing movie has widened even further.
