[Review copy provided by PR firm.]
If you live in an area that is even remotely urban, you see them: the kids that pull up next to you at stop lights, in what used to be just an ordinary Honda, Mitsubishi or Acura. Engines revving, stereos blaring, the value of the accessories on their fully-loaded rides far outweighs the vehicles’ initial price tags. They are the latest generation of torchbearers in the long-standing love affair that Americans have for their cars and what those cars represent.
The Fast and the Furious explores a unique twist on our shared national obsession — the world of import street racing — with a film that depicts what drives these road warriors and the edge-of-your-seat thrills they are chasing.
The underground racing scene is a world where someone like Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) can transcend his everyday existence as the proprietor of a local repair shop and become a legend. . . if only for a quarter of a mile at a time.
The extracurricular activities of Dom and his surrogate family of racing fanatics have not gone unnoticed, however, and they, along with a violent gang of Asian racers, are leading suspects in a series of elaborate, high-speed semi-truck hijackings. In addition to the cost of the electronic goods being stolen and fenced, law enforcement officials are concerned about the potential for violence that will result as the truckers start to take matters into their own hands. The case is important enough to have rookie detective Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) infiltrate Toretto’s race team. O’Conner doesn’t count on falling in love with Dom’s little sister, Mia (Jordana Brewster), or on growing to respect certain aspects of the man he is supposed to investigate. As pressure mounts in both areas of the cop’s dual life — with preparations for the important “Race Wars” taking center stage and his superiors clamoring for an arrest — he finds his loyalties torn between professional duty and the bonds he has forged with the Toretto siblings.
This kind of story has been told many times before. What makes The Fast and the Furious compelling is the effectiveness of its execution. Inspired by the Vibe magazine article “Racer X,” written by Ken Li, director Rob Cohen (The Skulls, Dragonheart) has taken extreme lengths to capture the spirit and fervor of the scene. He brought cult heroes R.J. De Vera and Craig Lieberman, of the National Import Racing Association (NIRA), on board to ensure a certain level of authenticity — from cars to clothing and music — in the first big-screen portrayal of this emerging subculture. (For example, a majority of the extras in the big crowd scenes are actual racers.) Gary Scott Thompson, Erik Bergquist and David Ayer‘s script provides a tightly-coiled framework for well-choreographed driving and chase scenes that frequently place viewers inside the action. Finally, the charisma of its cast extends beyond Walker, Diesel and Brewster to include edgy performances by Rick Yune, Michelle Rodriguez, Chad Linberg and Matt Schultz in supporting roles that help propel the story’s frenzied forward motion.
A first-rate popcorn flick that both racing aficionados and novices can enjoy, The Fast and the Furious packs a testosterone-laced, adrenaline punch that lives up to the promise of its title.
More Info:
THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS DVD Specs & Extras
– Public Service Announcement: “Please Drive Legally”
– English 5.1 Surround DTS
– Anamorphic widescreen presentation
– The Making of The Fast and the Furious documentary
– Feature-length commentary by Director Rob Cohen
– “Racer X,” the Vibe magazine article by Ken Li.
– Interactive eight camera stunt sequence
– “Movie Magic” interactive special effects (showing how an action sequence was composited)
– A featurette on the editing process for the MPAA ratings board
– Deleted scenes with commentary from the director
– Music videos for “Furious” by Ja Rule, “POV City Anthem” by Cadillac Tah and “Click Click Boom” by Saliva
– Music montage
– Production notes
– Cast and filmmaker information
– Theatrical trailer
– DVD-Rom features including a demo of Activision’s Supercar Street Challenge
THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS Rated PG-13. Available on DVD.
© 2001-2002 Universal Pictures in association with Mediastream Films. All rights reserved.