Review of Fast Five (2011) by Edward B — 19 May 2013

Whoa whoa whoa! What...where...how...no waay!

Never did I think I would not only be wholly recommending a Fast and the Furious movie, but that I'd be praising it as by far the funnest movie I have seen and no doubt will see all year, and quite possibly one of the slickest, coolest action films of all time! I know, I know. What am I thinking? Truth be told, I don't know. But I just came back from having the time of my life in a film that is nothing short of polished style, as polished as the wax job on the beautiful import cars that grace the screen.

Fast Five knows exactly where the previous four went wrong and not only doesn't make those narrative mistakes, it knows exactly what makes a great action film. The plot does away with most of the street racing points and centres around a crime caper. The tension gets so high that by the end, you're anxiously awaiting the big climax.

Anyone who doesn't like this movie is going to argue that it's implausible. No action movie is plausible in the sense of the world. John McLean could not single-handedly destroy an organized terrorist group in a plausible world. Keanu Reeves could not stop a bus from exploding by jumping a gaping hole in the highway. Likewise, this movie does not create a plausible universe. The over the top action is forgivable because it doesn't take itself seriously at all. The amazingly talented Justin Lin directs a fast-paced flick that fires on all cylinders while establishing likable characters who all have an identifiable personality. Michael Bay couldn't make a movie like this on his best day. This is the summer's best film, one of the best films of this year, and one of the best action films of all time!