STARRING: Paul Walker, Tyrese, Cole Hauser, Eva Mendes, and Ludacris
So . . . did we really need a sequel to “The Fast and The Furious?” Were there that many unanswered questions from the first flick? Is Darth Vader really Paul Walker’s father and does he hold the one ring that rules them all? There’s no reason to make a second installment except for the fact that we live in a profit-driven economy. The first movie made decent coin so what’s to stop the youth of America from plunking down their summer job money for Part Deux?
Paul Walker returns as Brian O’Conner, the young cop with a lead foot. He’s been thrown off the force for letting Vin Diesel get away in the first movie. Vin also got away from this sequel since Universal wouldn’t meet his asking price so in the charismatic bald guy department we now have singer/actor Tyrese (“Baby Boy”). Brian is eking out a living street racing for dough in Miami until he’s picked up by the fuzz and offered a deal: they’ll clean up his record if he helps them bust a drug dealer who uses fast cars to transport his ill-gotten gains.
Brian enlists the help of Tyrese, who plays Roman, his childhood best friend. Roman’s a little bitter because he just got out of prison and blames Brian for his misfortune. After the prerequisite verbal and physical sparring, Brian and Roman infiltrate the gang of smooth criminal Cole Hauser (“Good Will Hunting” and “Pitch Black”). They are aided by a comely undercover customs agent (Eva Mendes from “Training Day” and “All About the Benjamins”). They then proceed to drive really fast all over Miami, defying gravity and physics along the way.
This movie is much more visually ambitious than the original, thanks to a budget upgrade and the imagination of director John Singleton taking over for Rob Cohen (who went on to stroke Vin’s ego in last summer’s “XXX”). Singleton is an odd choice for this kind of popcorn flick, having made his name on forthright dramas like “Boyz in the Hood” and “Rosewood.” He dipped a toe in the genre with the “Shaft” remake a few years ago, but the only thing that movie had going for it was the splendid Samuel L. Jackson. Singleton is more confident with this flick, enjoying all the Hollywood toys at his disposal. He’s crafted a fizzy guilty pleasure that’s fast food for the eyes.
Singleton’s casting is colorful and gives the audience something to watch in between racing scenes (of which there are many . . . but then, it is the sequel to “The Fast & The Furious”). Walker and Tyrese have a nice “Butch and Sundance” rapport, which is all the more remarkable since Walker is almost charisma-free as an actor. He sticks out like a Boy Scout at a biker bar. When Walker tries to act tough, he displays all the attitude of a young Bill Pullman. Thankfully, Tyrese and rapper Ludacris (as a garage owner/street youth kingpin) have personality to spare.
Mendes and former model Devon Aoki are the alluring token chicks in this boys’ club. Both wear their costumes nicely, which is about all the script allows them to do. An awkward romance is set up between Mendes and Walker, but it’s never really nurtured. People are paying to see the cars, not pesky character development. We’re also supposed to believe that Mendes is so deep undercover that she may have forgotten her loyalties, but I think the only thing she’s forgotten is her bra. Maybe in her next movie, Mendes will get to act with more than just her cleavage. Aoki’s character gets even less definition. She’s all hot pants and attitude – a living, breathing anime girl.
Hauser is a decent screen villain, full of cool menace, but he never gets a chance to go full tilt. There’s a lot of talk about how his character is such a devious bad ass, but Hauser only gets to glower and smoke cigars. His big showdown with the good guys in the finale is extremely underwhelming. It plays like the pat resolution of a TV cop show. I’ve been a fan of this guy since he played Benny in the wonderful “Dazed & Confused” (look twice, it’s him) and Hauser has the chops to play a villain, but this script doesn’t do him any favors.
Maybe they’re setting him up for bigger and better things in another sequel. And you know if this flick makes serious bank, Part Three is on its way. As long as young people have a need for speed, there will be an audience for this kind of nitrous-fueled fantasy. I’m sure it won’t be hard to lure Walker and Tyrese back on board. And some nubile starlets will probably be more than eager to jump into some skintight jumpsuits.
The bigger challenge might be what they’re going to call this flick. I mean, “3Fast 3Furious” just doesn’t cut it. What about “The Faster and the Furiouser”? “The Faster and the More Furious”? Maybe Hollywood should just be honest and call it “We Really Want Your Cash.”
