Release Date: June 6, 2003
Starring: Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Cole Hauser, Ludacris, Devon Aoki
Directed by: John Singleton
Written by: Michael Brandt, Derek Haas
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (street racing, violence, language, some sensuality)
The Fast and the Furious franchise utilizes beautiful women, fast cars, and unbelievable stunts in an effort to be nothing other than commercially successful. And while this may seem shameful to those who consider the cinema a precious art form, one must acknowledge the longevity of the James Bond franchise, the architect of this currently overused formula. Of course, 007’s success can also be attributed to Ian Fleming’s engaging writing and the unforgettable performances of its leading men.
Unfortunately, the writing for 2 Fast 2 Furious is barely adequate and Paul Walker once again struggles to define his character. But vast improvements have been made in this film over its 2001 predecessor, Rob Cohen’s The Fast and the Furious. Though there is no Vin Diesel, the cast is surprisingly well-equipped to deliver the kind of performances that will divert attention from the loss of such an integral player. This responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Tyrese Gibson (better known solely by his first name), and he delivers ten times the performance Diesel ever did (although it’s manifested in a completely different kind of character).
After being caught illegally street racing, former cop Brian O’Conner (Walker) is forced to bring down a powerful money launderer, Carter Verone (Cole Hauser), in order to clear his own record. He enlists the help of his equally law-defiant childhood friend Roman Pearce (Tyrese) to transport a shipment of “dirty” money, at which point the bust will be made with the help of undercover agent Monica Clemente (Eva Mendes).
Relying on eye candy (cars, girls, and stunts) more than plot or character development was a trademark of the original film. In this sequel, director John Singleton (1991’s Boyz N the Hood), assured of a fan base, didn’t simply produce an exact replica of the first film. In fact, Singleton, despite borrowing Cohen’s visually stylish “blur” effects for the driving sequences, seems to distance the style of his film from that of the original. For instance, 2 Fast 2 Furious feels as if it was shot as a buddy-cop movie rather than an in-depth look at the world of street-racing and the exploration of the bonds and ties formed within the subculture. Here, all of those things which were so important to the first movie are merely coincidental.
In the lead, Walker gives a forced performance as he attempts to anchor a film with a character that is uninteresting to begin with. The film can almost be categorized as a spin-off when considering how Walker’s character seemed to be a supporting one in the first film (despite top billing -- evidence of just what Vin Diesel’s presence will do to a movie). Once again, though, Walker plays second-string to relative newcomer Tyrese.
Like Diesel did in The Fast and the Furious, Tyrese steals the show in this movie with his cocky, charismatic character. He also makes the cookie-cutter buddy-cop relationship between Walker and himself bearable.
In the wings, Ludacris shows up and manages to play himself while maintaining his character’s likeability. Eva Mendes tries her best to overcome the lack of chemistry between Walker and herself in playing an undercover agent who also has a hand in one of the film’s romantic subplots. The worst addition to the cast, however, is Devon Aoki, who plays Suki, the girl gearhead who races with the boys. But with the dialogue she was given, it’s hard to blame her for her shoddy performance.
Overall, 2 Fast 2 Furious has the essential qualities to make it as successful as its predecessor. Tyrese makes up for Vin Diesel’s absence, although that’s not to say he plays the same type of character or gives the same type of performance; each contributes something different to the franchise. The story is strong enough to keep audiences appeased between action sequences and the eye candy is much more plentiful (and integral) than the original.
-- Ed Malinowski (edman_mal_pal@hotmail.com)