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Movie Review: Fast & Furious 6

Pretty people drive shiny cars that go real fast and crash. That was the only sentence I wanted to have in this review of Fast & Furious 6. I wanted you to open the webpage and only see that. Corporate didn't like the idea and the truth is I would be disrespecting the franchise that has reinvented itself and made car loads of cash along the way. Instead of racing and drifting, the F & F franchise has turned into B-Movie heist films with spectacular crashes and beautiful people driving the fast rides. This week the motor-head family lead by Vin Diesel's Toretto and Paul Walker's Brian try to take down an international terrorist in order to gain immunity from their past crimes in Fast & Furious 6.

Fast & Furious 6 has our clan of racers living the dream and leaving their lives of crime in the rear view mirror after the heist in Brazil. That is until Agent Hobbs(Dwayne Johnson) approaches them with an offer. Help Hobbs and company hunt down Owen Shaw(Luke Evans) and they will be given their freedom. If that wasn't tempting enough, Toretto also finds out that his deceased lover Letty(Michelle Rodriguez) is back from the dead and helping the criminal organization. The gang teams with Hobbs to take down Shaw and his criminal network.

Resurrections and criminal masterminds that specialize in vehicular warfare? Sounds dumb and you would be right. But it's also a whole lot of dumb fun as well. Fast & Furious 6 never tries to be Shakespeare. After six movies the filmmakers know what they are and play right into it. The car chases are top-notch including the chase between Toretto's crew and Shaw's metal formula one style race car that looks like it drove off the set of Mad Max. There are also tanks and airplanes that get involved in the action in Fast & Furious 6. The script is bad, but the action is strong which is exactly what you would expect from a F & F film. I doubt anybody is showing up to hear the riveting dialogue between Walker and Diesel.

Fast & Furious 6 is ridiculous at times, but you can't deny the franchise's popcorn charm. The film leaves you entertained even if the plot is weak as a Ford Festiva racing against Dom's Dodge Charger. I'm not a huge fan of this franchise and I never understood why they made a part 2 in the first place. But I did find myself letting go and enjoying the big mindless action of Fast & Furious 6. Actors like the Dwayne Johnson have helped breathe new life into the franchise and for the first time I'm actually intrigued by the next installment on the way. Make sure you stick around until the end for the tease. Overall I give Fast & Furious 6 2 1/2 potatoes out of 4, but I do expect fans of the franchise to have an even higher opinion than mine.

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