Review of 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) by Ryne W — 17 Sep 2014

The level of absurdity and ridiculousness in John Singleton's "2 Fast 2 Furious" is irrelevant. If I were to launch a scathing attack citing its thin story, one-dimensional characters and lack of dialogue as the reason for my distaste towards it, I would be the dumb one. This is a film that delivers exactly what it promises and I have to admire it for that reason.

Paul Walker is back as Brian O'Connor, the former Los Angeles undercover cop who let Vin Diesel go free at the end of the first installment. (Diesel, who shot to fame after the release of the original film chose not to return to the franchise.) Now in Miami, a dishonored Brian becomes once again embroiled in the world of illegal street racing that is as usual populated with car loads of hot babes, bad guys, and masses of extras on the sidelines. Despite his poor record, O'Conner is confronted by the police who promise to clear his name if he goes undercover as the driver for an evil drug lord named Carter Verone (Cole Hauser) whose main function in the story is to convincingly set up a series of outlandish set pieces and provide the good characters with offers they can't refuse. While Diesel's character is missed, the screenwriters have supplied Walker with another fiery foil in Roman Pearce, played with great vigor by Tyrese Gibson. Also along for the ride is Monica Fuentes, a sexy customs agent played by Eva Mendes who has been posing as Verone's girlfriend for the past nine months.

But who cares about characters in a movie like this? The action that is the main focus here and Singleton, who is best known for his 1991 drama "Boys N the Hood", is surprisingly well suited for the genre. His need and love of speed is clear throughout the movie and each action sequence seems to build off the previous one. Instead of focusing on character development and the grit and harshness of the surrounding Miami landscape, he is more concerned with the thrill of the chase, the roars of the engines, and the flashes of painted chrome. The end result is both fast and furious.