Universal Pictures' "The Fast and the Furious" almost plays like "Vertical Limit," this past winter's "Cliffhanger" on ice. For while at first it's an exhilarating ride with original action scenes, they quickly become routine when they are thrown at the audience time and time again. A film that struggles so hard to be technically accurate, "The Fast and The Furious" forgets to be entertaining for its share of the audience that hasn't grown up around cars-- the same audience that will flock to see the film off of Paul Walker's presence alone.
Walker plays Brian O'Conner, a man ready to prove to the city's top streetracer Dominic Toretto ("Saving Private Ryan"'s Vin Diesel) that there is more to him than just a pretty face. Although he loses a race against Dominic where the prize is Dominic's respect, the two form an unlikely friendship when Brian saves Dominic from getting arrested later that night. It's this friendship that soon blurs the line between family and obligation when Brian (who's an undercover cop) starts to suspect that Dominic is the man he has been tracking in a series of hijackings and the same man he is out to lock up in prison.
Despite the fact that young viewers will see "The Fast and the Furious" to watch heartthrob Paul Walker, the true star of the film is Vin Diesel. Diesel is absolute perfection in his portrayal of Dominic, a tough yet likable streetracer. He wins over viewers' hearts almost instantly with his charm, which makes it easy for us to relate to the strong draw Walker's character feels towards him. Although Diesel has already been discredited as the next big action star (after all, who really wants to be the next Steven Seagal?), "The Fast and the Furious" should show everyone who thinks he's all show elsewise. For underneath his mass of muscles lies a very talented actor struggling to make a name for himself. If "The Fast and the Furious" does nothing else, it helps Diesel stand out from the crowd.
Unfortunately, the remaining cast of "The Fast and the Furious" is as dull and unbelievable as Diesel is entertaining and realistic. Walker is as bland as ever and supplies further support for those who think he's landing roles simply based on his good looks. Although Walker could have easily proven elsewise being in the lead role, he chooses instead to combine his performances in "Varsity Blues" and "The Skulls" to bore audiences with a performance we have already seen. Similar to the movie's plotline, one will leave the theater wondering if Walker's own friendship with director Rob Cohen (who directed "The Skulls") blurred Cohen's ability to direct Walker and broaden his acting horizons. Meanwhile, the talent of "Girlfight" star Michelle Rodriguez is never seen because she is trapped in a role that she should have never been cast in. Watching Rodriguez play 'the girlfriend' is almost as painful as watching Walker try to change moods, and it's a shame that her talent went to waste seeing how the film so desperately needed it.
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