The problem with most sequels or chapter 2's (tagged knowingly as The Terrible 2s within the industry) of popular movies is not only that they aren't nearly as vibrant as their inspiration but are often little more than retreads of the original. They could not exist or be comprehended without an earlier, inspired offering.
2 Fast 2 Furious does not fall into that trap. While several characters from The Fast and the Furious reappear and reference is made to a story element of that film, the new entry can stand on its own and be appreciated without knowledge or viewing of the cutting edge prior feature.
But to what end?
The new film almost systematically wrings out every drop of originality of F & F and replaces it with cliché and convention. If truth in advertising were possible it would be more appropriately dubbed 2 Banal 2 Predictable. Its organic soundtrack has been replaced with cookie cutter music and pop tunes; the high octane races have been redeployed as arcade thrill rides; and the other race card - formerly street smart - now has the friendly feel of cushy call backs from central casting.
The opening frames immediately eschew any sense of authenticity. A late night street race squeals and careens through studio sets and culminates with the winner, Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), chased and apprehended by the local cops. It's only in the light of day that we learn the former undercover cop was busted from the force for allowing his target to flee and that he and the race have been transplanted to Miami.
From that starting point, the film segues into the sort of phony baloney plot familiar from countless TV cop skeins. The FBI descends (along with his former LAPD cohort) and will drop all charges if O'Conner agrees to do runs and get hard evidence against local drug czar Verone (Cole Hauser). His acquired skill behind the wheel and the fact their mole (Eva Mendes) has gotten very close to the kingpin should make for a smooth ride.
O'Conner signs on only if he can pick his co-driver. The FBI reluctantly cave to the demand and the ex-cop heads to his former stomping grounds of Barstow, Ca. to enlist childhood buddy and current parolee Roman Pearce (Tyrese). The twist here is that Pearce blames his former pal for his bust and, after a not very convincing dust up, also reluctantly takes the job to clear his record.It would be near impossible to bring something fresh from such a stale tale and neither director John Singleton nor his screenwriters prove up to the daunting challenge. In large part, the blame for 2 Fast 2 Furious going so decidedly off track has to be placed at the feet of producer Neil Moritz who did not or could not convince a significant number of the creative force from the first picture to reprise their roles.
The new crew falls considerably short of providing the canniness or invention of F & F, opting for lame humor and convenient plot turns to pave over the hoary script. However, Singleton lacks the acumen to rev up the pace, down shifting with 2 many close-ups and decelerating asides to mask the thin narrative and lackluster direction of action sequences.
Rather than a Vroom with a view, the new film evolves as a pale buddy movie in which Walker and Tyrese are Butch and Sundance in arrested development with Mendes vainly attempting to keep them in balance. It's also in need of a better-conceived villain and 2 many other things to belabor 2 many shortcomings. There's no way to win the race when you're driving in 2nd gear.
A Universal Pictures release of a Neil H. Moritz production. Produced by Moritz. Director, John Singleton. Screenplay, Michael Brandt, Derek Haas; story, Brandt, Haas and Gary Scott Thompson. Camera, Matthew Leonetti. Editors, Bruce Cannon, Dallas Puett. Music, David Arnold. Production design, Keith Brian Burns. Costumes, Sanja Milkovic Hays. Stunt coordinator, Artie Malesci. Technical advisor, Craig Lieberman.
Paul Walker (Brian O'Connor), Tyrese (Roman Pearce), Eva Mendes (Monica Fuentes), Cole Hauser (Carter Verone), Chris "Ludacris" Bridges (Tej), Thom Barry (Agent Bilkins), James Remar (Agent Markham), Devon Aoki (Suki).Reviewed: June 5, 2003
