The Fast and the Furious
		USA, 2001. Rated PG-13. 106 minutes. Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Rick Yune, Chad Lindberg, Matt Schulze, Johnny Strong, Ted Levine, Ja Rule Writers: Gary Scott Thompson (story & screenplay), Erik Bergquist (screenplay), David Ayer (screenplay), based in part on a magazine article by Ken Li Music: Songs by Ja Rule, Fred Durst, DMX, Method Man, et al.; score by Brian Tyler Cinematographer: Ericson Core Producers: Neal H. Moritz Director: Rob Cohen LINKS

Grade: C-

Review by Carlo Cavagna

ndercover detective is drawn into thrill-seeking community of adrenaline-rush junkies moonlighting as dangerous criminals. I didn't much care for this movie when it was called Point Break. I don't much care for it now that it's called The Fast and the Furious. Instead of surfing, The Fast and Furious features auto racing, much of it on city streets (which is illegal), and stars Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Diesel is a huge improvement over Point Break's Patrick Swayze as the seductive arch-villain, but the talentless Paul Walker is even worse than Keanu Reeves as the smart-as-rocks pretty-boy cop. Jordana Brewster is totally unbelievable as the love interest. It's nice to see Girlfight's Michelle Rodriguez getting big-movie work, but it's a bit of a shock to see her at the mandated Hollywood-actress weight and in such a thankless role (as Diesel's girlfriend). The film also features Silence of the Lambs' Ted Levine (who played the other villain--you know, the one Jodie Foster was actually trying to catch) as Walker's police boss. Your enjoyment of The Fast and the Furious depends completely on whether you have a passion for fast cars. Supposedly it comes with the Y-chromosome, but I was born without it. The street racing scenes, jam-packed with nubile young women bursting out of their tiny clothes, make beer commercials look realistic. I suppose that's also a reason to watch, or not, depending on taste. Review © January 2002 by AboutFilm.Com and the author. Images © 2001 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

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