Universal PicturesHard to believe what started as a street-racing version of Point Break would spawn five sequels, but if there's anything we learned since the 2001 original, it's never underestimate gravely voiced Vin Diesel. Now the series goes into overdrive with smarter baddies and faster (and furiouser!) roadsters for adrenaline-fueled chases that span the globe.
Dominic Teretto, (Diesel) keeps his crew (somewhat) grounded. Paul Walker, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson and Jordana Brewster are all back. Even Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) who presumably exploded in the fourth one returns—albeit with a convenient case of amnesia. Throughout the series, there have been endless bouts between muscle-bound dudes, sexy babes and NoZ-equipped rides, yet somewhere along the way, F&F recognized how over-the-top it was and cleverly, shifted gears from just a racing flick to heist plots that are easy to swallow with tongue firmly in cheek. One-liners are plenty. Explosions still many. Director Justin Lin encourages us to laugh and laugh often. This is a pure movie with no pretentions of being a film.
Expectations are high since the last entry, Fast Five (2011) was loved by audiences, raking in $626 million worldwide. Furious 6 might be better. Don't believe us?
Here Are Six Things That Make Furious 6 The Most Revved Up Yet:
1. Justin Lin = Pure Escapism. Michael Bay, Please Take Notes… Director Lin first buckled up with the third one, Tokyo Drift (2006), which falls into the so-bad-it's-good category. None of the original cast were around save for a quick cameo by Torreto at the end. Drift (as in drifting the cars on killer turns) followed a teen (who looked 30) whose bad behavior stateside gets him "exiled" to Japan. The film is laughably bad, but this is where Lin's talent for great pacing and action scenes began. As the next one, Fast & Furious (2009) got the gang back together with some welcome additions (Han! Roman! Tej!), everything started to gel. Walker became less uptight cop, more sympathetic outsider. By Five (2011), Vin (and now Dwayne Johnson) kept wearing tight shirts. Lin's FF flicks live in a world that could have been made by Bay (Transformers), but are wonderfully self-aware and devoid of hectic MTV-editing. So we're sad to hear that Lin is taking a break and will not return for FF7.
2. Amazing Team Assembled and No Super Powers! For all the unbelievable, crazy, heart-pumping moments there's something old-school cool about Dom and his crew saving the world solely with tricked out Mustangs. Tony Stark probably couldn't care less, but that just makes seeing the team take down a tank more awesome.
Speaking of…
3. About THAT Tank Scene. When Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) promises full pardons to Dom and his crew if they can take down a group bent on stealing highly classified military intel, their first race pits them against futuristic-looking go carts that have the ability to topple cars. By the time the tank arrives, reality is beyond stretched, but a lot of it looks shot on location. We assume Roman (Gibson) flying to his buddy Brian (Walker) is CG though.
4. Welcome Gina Carano. Welcome back, Michelle Rodriguez. Former MMA champion Gina Carano (Haywire) is Riley, new sidekick for cop Hobbs (Johnson) and kick she does. Her womano y womano against Letty (Rodriguez) is one of the best brawls in years. Who will you root for?
5. The Other Crew Looking over their wrap sheets, Roman (Gibson) sees their rivals as "evil twins" of themselves. Naturally, the hot blond (Clara Paget) is a ringer for Brian (Walker.) Shaw (Luke Evans) is their leader: A man who sees his crew as disposable as faulty engine parts.
6. Stay For the Credits to See What's in Store for the Third Fast & Furious Trilogy James Wan (Insidious) will be directing FF7. As for the villain? All we're saying is, whoa!
Are you ready to put the pedal to the metal? Sound off in the comments!