(MOVIE REVIEW) Fast Five proves that the franchise still has plenty of tread left on the tires

Raise your hand if you occasionally speed. Now put your hand down...because I can’t see them raised anyway. The point is that everyone likes to play “speed demon” from time to time. The problem is that it is often dangerous and always illegal. That means that about 90% of your driving time is filled with the urge to do something that you can’t/shouldn’t do and, if you are anything like me, sometimes it’s aggravating. That is the major appeal of movies in this franchise. The driving rulebook goes out the window, the pedal is pinned to the floorboard, and the breaks are never pushed.

This movie picks up at the end of the last installment. Dom (Diesel) has recently been incarcerated and is being transported to a correctional facility. While on his way to the location Brian (Walker) and Mia (Brewster) swing into action in an attempt to break him free. After the escape, they are immediately placed at the top of the FBI’s Most Wanted List. Agent Hobbs (Johnson) is sent to apprehend the group, send Dom back to prison, and turn in anyone associated with the past crimes (those shown in the previous films). Knowing that they need to escape and finally get out of this lifestyle, they plan one last job. When the job exposes a kingpin in Rio, things get very dangerous for the group. 

I can’t tell you how much I have disliked some of the films in this franchise. The second and third installments were horrible. However, the franchise got back on track with the fourth film and, admittedly, turned out a pretty entertaining film with Fast Five. It’s the perfect movie to kick off a summer of mindless (but entertaining) blockbuster movies. 

Worth the admission? Absolutely. The movie is not going to win any awards for writing or acting, but its niche is action and it does that very well. 

Note: I thought it was great to see some of the past stars of the previous films in this installment….but I was left a little aggravated when I realized where this movie is chronologically placed in the franchise. Let me know what you thought of this.