Fast & Furious 6 - Movie Review
By Anne Brodie May 25, 2013, 14:08 GMT
Hobbs has Dom and Brian reassemble their crew in order to take down a mastermind who commands an organization of mercenary drivers across 12 countries. Payment? Full pardons for them all. ...moreIt’s painful to think of how great the film could have been with a good story and a little characterization.
It’s an endless cacophony of noise, fists smacking flesh, cartoon musclemen and vaguely interesting weaponry. It’s the actual dictionary definition of a genre film made to be eye-popping without too much attention paid to the characters as people.
The film is as thin as a film can get these days and still exist. As much as I like the individual actors and their work, this empty meeting of minds is simply a canvas for the real stars, the special effects guys and the cars.
The stunts/special effects are truly genius at certain points, but in general, it’s the usual fire, bombs, guns, bullets, flash cars, engines, and for extra eye appeal, a tank. I’m an action fan when the action’s good and the people are at least relatable. What’s the point otherwise, you might as well play a video game.
Such a disappointment from a franchise that’s been fun and inventive, even thrilling over the years.
Vin Diesel’s the shadowy and unknowable leader, who utters few but Very Important words. Dwayne Johnson is the most recognizable human being; he is built like a mountain but has an interior life. Paul Walker is a blank, with little to do but shed an occasional tear.
His family is in danger, yes, but of course it will turn out okay. Side characters like Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson bring some much needed irony and laughs. Fellow warriors Gal Gadot and Sung Kang come closest to portraying an authentic, if tragic couple.
Don’t get me started on the de riguer women. BUT, Michelle Rodriguez’ snarly defector, okay, she lost her memory, can’t act her way out of an empty bag of chips and is painful to watch. The amazing martial artist Gina Carano is dreadfully, criminally underused.
At least wife and mother Jordana Brewster can also use a gun and her instinct when she must to stay alive. The characters, male and female, are 90% caricature.
In summary plot wise, the boys are rendered wealthy after their last job and live comfortable lives in separate worlds. They are brought together to carry out a mission for a “two bit government” type (Johnson) in exchange for government pardons so they can return to America.
The deal is set and off they go to right the wrongs of a group souped-up deadly mercenaries, who are equal to their own skills. It’s a fair fight.
The journey takes them around the world to Spain, England, Scotland, Tokyo, California, so there is little boredom in the travelogue department, and it’s odd. Everywhere they land, they’re met with walls of bare female bums in skimpy bikinis. I don’t know how that happens. The 12-year-olds behind me really enjoyed those parts.
On an interesting note, in the real world, police in many cities are putting extra forces outside movie theatres this weekend as a deterrent against copycat stunt driving.
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Written by Chris Morgan and Gary Scott Thompson
Directed by Justin Lin
Runtime: 130 minutes
MPAA: PG13
Country: USA
Language: English
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