Movie Review: The Fast and The Furious

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to Movie Review.

You know for many years, making more than 3 or 6 sequels are easily point that some franchises are starting to get tiresome and declining, and yet, some are still making money out of at the box-office, leaving some of us (myself included) asked “How the hell did they got away to make another one?!” or my favorite question “WHEN WILL YOU DIE!?” (Im sorry, just, just let it sink in). Take Marvel Cinematic Universe for example, it used to be great during the Infinity saga, but once we get into Multiverse saga, it turning into a cluster F and tiresome very quickly that many fans (myself included) started to getting tired and maybe moving away. But then again, there are many series that they’re getting tiresome, and especially that we’re reaching to the end, one of which is Fast X, which is now gonna be the 10th and last of the series. Except its a test of patience that the 10th installment is a 3 part movies, since after Furious 7, the Fast and Furious series is going down that we’re starting to get tired. Not to mention, while looking at the later installments, it really made us miss what it used to back then. Which is why we’re going back to the one that started it all, and the beginning of Family’s Family.

“The Fast and The Furious” is a 2001 action film that was directed by Rob Cohen, produced by Neal H. Moritz, and written by Gary Scott Thompson, Erik Bergquist and David Ayer.

The idea of this movie came from Rob Cohen read in Vibe magazine with one article about “Race X”, a report where somebody like to do a street racing in New York City and seeing an actual street racing in LA (Oh yeah, did I mention Street Racing is illegal? Yeah, don’t think its a good idea to do a racing to disturbing the peace and wasting police’s time.). So, he brought Thompson and Bergquist for the story in Universal Pictures. Originally, the title was going to be called “Redline”, but they decide changing to “The Fast and The Furious”, which there was a movie with a same name in 1954 by none other than Roger Corman. Thankfully Corman licensed the title to Universal for giving their official title without having a legal action. Though it was originally taken place in white and suburban story in New York, but they changed to a street urban theme in LA, thanks to the rework from David Ayer.

When this movie came out, it had a mixed reactions, some really like the actions, the cars and even familiar actors that we all know for their breakthrough, but writing is anything but. Meanwhile, the box-office is well-received by earning more than $207.3 Million over $38 Million budget. And like I said, with the movie’s success, it became a franchise with more cars, more actions and more FAMILY. Though I think my father remember this movie, but I was questionably skipped to see “2 Fast 2 Furious” (il get that one in the future). But I eventually took a shot to see it before the franchise starting to get ridiculous about “Fast and FAMILY”.

So, with all that said, will the first one is still worth to see to this day, or is this FAMILY’s origin had a start like a car wreck.

Well, lets find out.

The Story

As the very first film of the series, we expected that the story could promising for the build up? Well, its 50/50.

The movies begins in the middle of the night where a truck drives for delivering electronic goods, but then out of nowhere, three black Honda Civics coming in to hijacking the truck to stealing it and get away, despite they have green under glow, but still. By next day, we introduce Brian O’Conner (though under his questionable name “Brian Earl Spilner”), an LAPD officer who’s trying to be a street racer in secret with his Mitsubishi Eclipse, but felt more like a rookie in his attempt. Right until he goes to market that also has a restaurant that he always love to ordering a tuna sandwich (Brian: No crust), not before he sees the crews coming in with their flashy and colorful tuned cars for checking the market, but one of the crew member, Vince, isn’t in a mood to see Brian eating the same tuna sandwich, pretty much bullying him over his diet, leaving Brian reached his boiling point to beating Vince up, until the market owner, infamous street racer and “FAMILY” crew leader Dominic Toretto, for not only break up the fight, but also scolding Brian as responsible for a fight and banning him to appearing in his market (along with demanding tune shop owner to firing Brian, but it doesn’t matter for the story). But Brian still has street racing car (along with buying bottles of NOS, aka Nitrous Oxide System) for a street drag racing against Dom, Danny and Edwin (aka Ja Rule), but lost the racing that Dom is too good for racing. But after escaping from cops, Brian saves Dom from getaway, they’re encountered by Johnny Tran with gang (including his cousin Lance Nguyen) for situation from past, though Dom said its just an accident, but Tran pretty much find it BS by destroying Brian’s Eclipse, leaving Brian got ordered from Dom give him “10 Seconds Car” for Race War. However, Brian haven’t realized that he’s in undercover from the police, mainly the hijacking truck situation from last night, but they need to know about the culprit, either Dom or John Tran, its up to Brian to find the clue and the culprit of truck-jacking, even if its gonna be hard when he’s get along with Dom’s FAMILY.

Yeah, while I appreciated for a story about an unlikely police officer who’s secretly a street racer in undercover about the truck heist, but the downside is the writing is clunker with that its not easy to know what’s the main plot about, is it finding the culprit of truck-jacking, the buildup of Race War or confrontational over Johnny Tran? It always switching the subject what we’re focusing on, even if Brian needs to reminding himself from LAPD about the freakin’ truck heist, despite Brian gotta keep Dom away from the heist situation (or so Brian and we thought). While il give a credit for trying for the story, but in a clunky execution, but I should also pointing out the dialogue of this movie is kinda cheesy or some kinda didn’t make sense from Brian dares to win to take the cash and respect (Playing GTA San Andreas much for not taking seriously, Brian?) or Vince’s knowing the Cuban themed restaurant called “Cha-Cha-Cha”, jeez, its cringe that its almost like it was came up by six year old.

While I love the film’s idea for the setting and the purpose of street racing, but its the execution is clunky from the writing and kinda lack of direction for reminding us about the undercover.

The Presentation

While the effects (mainly post-production) might be dated, but ignore the digital effects, the presentation is one helluva show off of racing and flashy cars in LA.

Speaking of the latter. The filming is, obviously, taking place of Los Angeles, California, cause after all, California will be a perfect fit for flashy and colorful cars. There are several locations on LA that we’re familiar that they were filmed like the parking-lot in Dodge Stadium (where Brian tests his Eclipse), Echo Park (the neighborhood place where Toretto’s home lived in), San Bernardino Airport (for Race War scene) and several other locations in LA.

Of course, the main budget isn’r just in LA, but rather the cars, cause let me tell you, those tuned cars are pretty damn cool looking, colorful, stylish decals and they are fast, depending for the performance at the latter. They did a pretty good job for their cars presence for tunes and strong performance for the car chases, as well as racing.

There are many cars that you or may not familiar, there’s the Mitsubishi Eclipse, which was Brian’s first car, Mazda RX-7, which was Dom’s first car for racing, Toyota Supra is for the plot point using it as 10 seconds car for Race War (specially iconic it looks with stylish knight livery and fine orange color), Honda Civic (which is use for truck heist in the middle of the night for black camouflage, as well as another one from the first street racing), Volkswagen Jetta (while its cool in presence, but not as super fast), Honda S2000 (where Johnny Tran drives it for Race War), Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 (Don’t worry, Brian will take a Skyline that im sure you guys know it at the sequel), Acura Integra, Ferrari F355 (“nice car”), and of course, the most iconic car that we all know, Dom’s Dodge Charger R/T, that last one is so badass looking in sleek black with engine showing, in fact, this car so iconic that Dodge Charger became Dom’s signature car that it’ll later coming back for either racing or car chases.

Speaking of the latter, another highlighted moments is the action scenes of car chasing or even street racing, they’re pretty fun to watch if your racing fan or car enthusiast (kinda like me, despite I love collecting Hot Wheels cars), while we love the car chases like the truck heists, chasing away from the police and even facing after Tran’s gang with good’ol car vs motorcycles. As for the racing, well, all we have is street drag racing. While im not a fan of drag racing (even if il get use to them), but they’re pretty fascinating, that unless you wanna win so badly for the use of NOS like Brian does. Though I wish if there’s various turns for street racing than drag racing, im just saying, but drag racing isn’t my number 1 favorite kind of racing, then again, im sure some of you like drag racing, but don’t do that at public, that is unless Brian is racing against a Ferrari in the road with incoming cars, again, never do that at public, cause the police will tell you otherwise.

However, one criticism I have for this movie, aside the actresses who’re played Mia and Letty had to taking a driving lessons during the production, is the post-production effects, sure the effects could be practical effects like explosions, hanging cars and truck for dear lives and such, which they’re are good, but when they pulled a post-production effects, they look, pretty dated and kinda cheap, sure we may like to see interiors and zooming in, but its just that the technology effects aren’t aged well, I know its 2001 that it may look good at first, but looking back at the movie in 2023 (as im writing this) they can be “urgh!” looking. Like, maybe they could using one of those camera corners where we turns the camera when the car drives by in full speed like in Formula 1 or other motorsports.

While the digital effects didn’t aged well, but the movie’s presentation looks pretty good for the cars, chasing, racing, stunts and beautiful view for LA, California.

The Characters

Even though the writing may not as good, but the characters are memorable with their breakthroughs.

Starting off with our main hero, Brian O’Conner (played by the late Paul Walker), an LAPD officer who’s in order for the undercover about the truck heist. He plays more like a rookie in the movie, sure he’s been in police for a while, but more like a rookie of street racing, even if its a rocky start for his racing both of his test with his old Eclipse and even street drag racing. Despite being a newbie, but he’s also being the brain for his detective and mechanical parts, even though it may surprises at Dom’s FAMILY, but then again, he’s in undercover in secret while hanging with Dom. But of course, even though writing is kinda corny for him, but Paul did a good job of his role, especially it made a backstage friendship with Vin Diesel.

Speaking of the latter, next up the secondary protagonist (or more like anti-hero), Dominic Toretto (played by Vin Diesel) the leader of his FAMILY, and a professional street racer that no one can possibly imagine. Yes, its our main boss of the FAMILY that we all know and love. But in this movie’s case for his debut, he plays like an anti-hero that while he has a criminal activity, but he has a respect with some, including Brian, even if he could easily push his button if its not going on his way. Of course, he also gave a fascinating character development how he has become, he seeks vengeance over the loss of his beloved father when they used to tuning with Dodge Charger R/T, its mainly because his father died in stock car racing that he had brutal fight over his father’s rival, which it left him in prison before he was free to forming his FAMILY. I know it sounds non-sense for taking his vengeance, but then again, its his purpose that he’s gonna be a street racer against the law for his.. Well, FAMILY. Though despite of some his questionable writing, but he has a fascinating development and Vin Diesel did a good work of his role.

After that, we have Letty Ortiz (played by Michelle Rodriguez), she’s both Dom’s love interest and second-in-command of the FAMILY crew. She seems to be may or nothing on purpose for main plot, other than being with Dom’s crew for the heist, despite her concern if the plan isn’t going on the way. But she may have her beauty in bad girl style and driving her main car (at the time) 1997 Nissan 240SX, which the presentation of her car looks preferably fit for her style. And Michelle did a fairly descent role, even if her role is kinda minimal.

Next, we have Mia Toretto (played by Jordana Brewster), she’s Dom’s sister, the owner of Toretto’s general store and Brian’s love interest. While she likes to be Dom for being a lovable sister of the FAMILY, but she does have a build up love interest to Brian, despite she’s gotta dealing with love triangle from Vince. Yup, another one of those movies that has “Love Triangle” cliché, but does the Love Triangle part has to do with a the plot? M’well… Kinda?? I kinda get it wants to add a bit of drama at some moment, but again, the writing botched at some moments. But in fairness, Jordana did a nice work of her role, despite her appearance is probably more than Letty.

Speaking of which, there’s Vince (played by Matt Schulze), one of Dom’s both crew and childhood friend of the FAMILY, at first, I though he’s gonna be a villain when he likes to humiliating Brian, but he’s more of caring to Vince than Brian, especially with the aforementioned Love Triangle part, but alas, he’s nowhere part of main plot, aside the third and final act. Though il give Matt a fairly decent role of his neutral character.

And lastly we have Johnny Tran (played by Rick Yune), a Vietnamese gang leader and Dom’s nemesis since the past when Brian first sees him after the pink slip drag race. I find him to be… Lackluster, he’s just there for confronting against The FAMILY for the sake of taking down each others, either for the money, the cars, or even framing who’s who for stealing goods like DVD players, which, SPOILER ALERT, he has nothing to do with DVD robbery. Instead he’s here to challenging against Dom and his crew for Race War to putting cars on the line for his and his group’s will than FAMILY, despite when he and his family were raided, again, they had nothing to do with DVD robbery, which despite he’s here for Race War, but it just plain worthless that, like Letty, his appearance is lackluster, despite Yune did a nice role.

As for the rest of the cast, they’re there for plot conveniences and such, despite of questionable writing, there’s Tanner and Bilkins (played by Ted Levine and Thom Barry) who’re involved to organizing Brian’s undercover for who’s responsible of truck hijacking, Hector (played by Noel Gugliemi) who organized the first drag race with unusually friend of Brian, Jesse (played by Chad Lindberg) who’s the young and the brain of FAMILY, despite he has ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and Lance Nguyen (played by Reggie Lee) who’s Johnny’s henchman.

I should also like to pointing out that some of them have a cameos, there’s Rob Cohen played as a pizza deliveryman who got blocked from the first street racing, Neal H. Moritz played as a Ferrari driver who’s challenged by Brian and Dom for demonstrating their Toyota Supra before Race War and finally, there’s Edwin played by rapper in legal problem, Ja Rule. And yeah, go ahead, make a Fyre Festival joke at Ja Rule in the comment bellow for how he’s involved to scamming people for the trip at Bahamas that ended nothing but an empty place with cheap foods and cheap tents, but its a long different story.

Despite the poor writing, but at least some characters are either notable or okay, but at least some acting are good too.

SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t seen the movie or didn’t mind.

The final act is, while the writing is poor, but at least the climax is interesting to go.

Once the set up Toyota Supra as a 10 second car is done with beat Ferrari, dressed up as a SWAT team to arresting Johnny Tram, Brian found out Tram is not the culprit of DVD robbery as I said, the police told Brian that he has 36 to find the right culprit, leaving Brian sadly knew this must be Dom Torreto, meaning he has two difficulty option to save himself, his police career or FAMILY. Later on, its Race War with Brian arrives with his tuned Supra, seeing several drivers of FAMILY winning for cash prices and maybe one lucky car, however, Jesse is set to putting his father’s car, Volkswagen Jetta, on Pink Slip against… Johnny Tram with Honda S2000…! Brian is alerted that Tram’s car is too powerful from his tuning to beat Jesse’s Jetta, but Jesse shrugged off that it will be easy, except using his NOS with his weak car is too little too late that Tram beat him, leaving Jesse in panic to ran away, and Dom is pissed at Johnny for Jesse’s loss, this causing a commotion between of two. Later that night, Dom, Letty, Vince and Leon (played by Johnny Strong) are setting up for, you guessed it, another truck robbery, Brian saw it and that he know Dom is behind it all along, he tells Mia about this whole thing, along with revealing himself that he’s secret a cop for undercover, Mia is disgusted about this, but she’s forced to work with him to stop them or he’ll be sacked out from the police. And so the chase is on, Dom and his crew are chasing a truck with their black Honda Civics, thinking it will be easy, except its the opposite that the trucker has a shotgun, leaving Vince is stuck in a hell-hole from being tangled by his rope and a gunshot wound, while Dom and his crew get either loose or damaged, but then Brian and Mia are arriving with super speed Supra, with Brian (goes into Indiana Jones style) jumps at the truck to detaching the rope to saving Vince to get in Supra. But the damage is already done that Vince is bleeding out so badly that Dom’s FAMILY and Brian are looking for emergency, but once dialing 911, he completely revealing himself as “Officer Brian O’Conner” in front of Torreto in emergency, Dom is pissed that Brian is cop all along between this and his sneaking of checking the cars from garages of truck robbery plan a couple days ago, resulting he and his crew drive away while Vince is taken from a chopper, well done for saving your police career Officer Benedict Arnold.

Brian arrives at Dom’s home that he’s under arrest, but Dom refuses in stand off, saying he’d rather dies than being taken to the prison from before, until Jesse arrives in panic (after 24 hours in hiding, I think) to be safe, not before he’s gunshot to death by none other than Johnny Tram and his henchman Lance Nguyen, this causing Brian changes his plan to chasing after two, but Dom, still pissed over Johnny, takes his Dodge Charger R/T to going vengeance against the two (kinda giving backup to Dom) with Lance being thrown out from the bike (probably being injured, but we’ll never see him ever again) and Tram gets shot to death by Brian. After the villains are down, Brian goes back at Dom and, for some reason, Dom dares to challenging Brian in a quarter miles drag racing across railroad as a finish line since his old high school. And so, the drag racing is on between of two, Dom is ahead of racing (unless some part in car is overheating) from Brian, but Officer O’Conner uses NOS to going side-by-side, but one downside is that there’s an incoming train, while Dom gears up for more speed, Brian taps a NOS that they both survived from the train, they won in a tie, except it didn’t last long that Dom gets T-Boned by incoming truck out of nowhere, completely ruining his trusty father’s charger (We that went well, eh?). After Dom lost his car, it seems like he’s gonna be arrested, but instead, Brian decides to handing over his key to Dom, since they’re frenemies together since Brian owes him a 10 seconds car, and so, Dom drives away to hiding away (aka replacing his car with Chevy Chevelle SS to driving away to Baja California) while Brian walks away on his own.

Yeah, the last scene is pretty dumb, to let Dom get away while Brian walks away like nothing happens, but in fairness, the climax is rather fun to watch, despite with all the non-sense reasons.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, The Fast and The Furious is rather fun, but rather dumb for some moments.

The action racing/ car chase scenes are no strangers to be the highlights, the cars are impressive looking for how colorful they are, the filming and its presentation are good and some casts are good too.

Sure, the presentation maybe dated what we see as a 2001 movie, but its easier said that the writing is the movie’s biggest weakness, sure the story is good for having an unlikely policeman likes to racing with tuned car for facing against co-jack as frenemies, but its just the writing that either some moments just didn’t make any sense or even some dialogue can be either fun or poorly cheesy.

Granted, its the start up franchise of “The Fast and The FAMILY”, but this movie is kinda having a rocky start with some dated or dumb moments, but in fairness, it has its fun moments, an introduction of colorful tuned cars as well as the starting point of our familiar characters in the movies and the casts like the late Paul Walker, Vin Diesel and even Michelle Rodriguez.

For recommendation, im sure its easily for the fans who like cars and even street racing, and also Fast and Furious fans out there, mainly for excitement of racing or even a chemistry frenemy between Brian and Dom in the early days. But for some, im not so sure if I recommending it from the nonsensical moments and such, but hey some (probably me) may say its a fun kind of dumb movie, even if im more into double-edge sword. I’d say watch it once if you like it or not.

For my rating, im gonna give this one… I’d say 6/10, it maybe weak, but it has some fun moments.

Like I said before, with the movie’s success it ended up building a long franchise, it was fun at first, but when Paul Walker died, it became tiresome franchise that it felt like its been exploited for the sake of quick money at the box-office. Do I wanna review Fast and Furious sequels? Um… Im not so sure, il let you guys draw your conclusion if il do it or not.

Anyway, So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.