Why in the world is everyone so hard on movies that just give us a thrill? Looking through many of the reviews on Fast and Furious, I was floored. So many critics tore it apart and lamented that the audience is served a rehash of the first film. Well, that got me seriously wondering what the hell is wrong with that? In a time when so many movies have political agendas, and the producers just want to beat the audience over the head with their opinions, this viewer says, “Give me attractive people and fast cars every single day.”

I’ll admit, when I first caught wind of the fact that Paul Walker and Vin Diesel were going to try and reclaim their fame from early in the decade by re-teaming for the fourth film in the series, I laughed. This laughter was in large part due to the fact that they had become caricatures of themselves in so many of their films (Chronicles of Riddick? Into the Blue?). The movie choices that these two actors made following their huge success with the first Fast and Furious were questionable. Vin Diesel had some great films with Pitch Black and Knockaround Guys beforehand. Paul Walker made Pleasantville and Varsity Blues. But I think that this was a smart choice for both of them. The audience is loyal to their characters in the Fast and Furious franchise.

The most recent film was better than the first. Disagree? Well, the storyline may be contrived in Fast and Furious, but so was the first one. What made this film better was having one of the best opening sequences in recent memory. The only one I can think of that beats it is the opening from Casino Royale in 2006. The lack of strength in supporting characters in this one does not matter much because this film was written solely for the shining moments between the two main characters: Diesel as Dom Toretto and Walker as Brian O’Conner, respectively. You know that this was written with the two of them in mind, and the rest of the actors on screen are only there to revolve around them as they spar and heat up the action.

It’s important to be able to get caught up in films that allow us to live in a fantasy, and I think that we are seeing more and more that this is what people want in their movies. They don’t want to be reminded of all the things that are horrible in the world right now. Most adult thrillers are made about politics, terrorism, and kidnapping and killing, and these don’t do well. Case in point: State of Play (but we’ll get there in a few).

Personally, I can’t find a new job right now. Why do I want to go to a movie that reminds me of that? No, I want a show that makes me believe I can do anything and go out and live my life on my own terms and enjoy it.

The thing about Fast and Furious is that it is one hell of a thrill ride. And most importantly, the thrills are genuine in this. If it is going to be labeled as fluff, then fine. But it at least deserves the title of the best and most entertaining fluff that we have had in a long time. All we can hope for now is that Vin and Paul makes some smart choices and keep us entertained. Or, again, at the very least, Vin uses his head this time and doesn’t go back to the Riddick series he already drove into the ground.

Fast and Furious 5 anyone?

Filed under: silver screen by admin