Fast Five Review (3/5)

If you're wondering why the article header dubs the latest Fast And Furious as Fast Five as opposed to the marketing campaign's simple use of the franchise title with the number 5, it's because the film still refers to itself as Fast Five, so fair's fair. Most series tend to lose their energy and vigour by their fifth entry, but one thing I can credit this for is keeping up its unpredictability and general likeability throughout, featuring a host of forgettable yet brilliant characters and an unrealistic yet completely thrilling plot. Make no doubt about it, those two elements are indeed the double-edged swords that hold it back from being anything but a shallow summer blockbuster, but by damn will you have a good time watching it! The premise is simply that three of the FBI's Most Wanted escape to Rio, only to find a deadly new job waiting for them involving corrupt presidents and millions of dollars. I could stick that scenario with any series of action-adventure films and immediatedly know what to expect, however the writers here play on the knowledge that we've heard all this before by providing some unexpected and oft hilarious twists on the formula- think The A-Team mixed with Starsky & Hutch. Ultimately, if I spoilt the main setpieces of the film (undeniably the best parts) for you I'd be taking away the only core element that makes Fast Five worth your cash, so all I can say is that if you want a action-packed, relatively fast paced romp to start the Summer of Film off with a bang, you could do far worse than this.