fast and furious 4

Eight years ago who would have thought that "The Fast and the Furious" would spawn three sequels and still be running strong? Things didn't look hopeful when Vin Diesel opted out of headlining the second film due to newfound stardom and an inflated ego, but after a brief appearance in the third feature "Tokyo Drift", he's back to his old tricks as bad boy Dominic "Dom" Torretto. Paul Walker returned for the second film and bowed out of the third, yet after appearing in hits like "Eight Below" and misses like "Into the Blue", he too, like Diesel, is making a humble return.

I guess it's safe to say the appeal of these films is fast cars and hot women, which go hand in hand in any environment whether it be L.A., Miami or Tokyo. The thing is, these films have a paint by numbers plot if there was one and the final results are a series of images involving either speed or scantily clad ladies. These movies are obviously geared towards guys, but I can't help but wonder why every car race in every film features women making out with each other. Yeah, that is what horny young guys want to see, but its become a running gag in these films that where there are fast cars there are also bisexual and lesbian gals who look like swimsuit models.

Though Diesel appeared in a brief cameo during the final scene of the previous film, the story of "Fast & Furious" appears to take place slightly before those events, with Dom and his girlfriend Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) hijacking a gasoline land train in the Dominican Republic with several pals, including Tokyo Drift's Han (Sung Kang). Though there is plenty of action to be had, the opening sequence turns out to be the most exciting bit in the film. After dividing up their shares of the profits, Dom, still on the run from the law, decides its safer to go his own way, leaving Letty behind.

Flash forward to some time later (perhaps after or during the storyline of 'Tokyo Drift') and FBI agent Brian O'Connor (Walker) is chasing a suspect, hoping to get intel on a drug smuggling ring. The ring is run by the mysterious Arturo Braga, who hires the fastest drivers in L.A. to get his product into the country. The problem is no one knows who he is or what he looks like and Brian is hoping to infiltrate the organization to identify him. Brian must really be FBI agent material since the last we saw him he was planning to open his own car detailing business with a childhood buddy (Tyrese) at the end of the second film. It's a little strange that his superiors have brought him back into the fold since after all, he did let Dom go free in the original film and was forced to go on the run by the second. Yet they don't think he'll be able to identify Braga since there is another obstacle in his way.

When Dom gets a message from his little sister Mia (Jordanna Brewster) that Letty's been murdered, he takes the risk of coming back into the U.S. to find out who killed her. Apparently after parting ways in D.R., she landed a job as a driver for Braga and the cost was her life. Both intent on bringing Braga down, when Dom and Brian finally cross paths, there's still friction between them. You would think Dom would cut Brian a little slack, because after all, the guy was forced to go on the run for letting him walk. He not only still considers Brian a "buster", but will do whatever it takes to infiltrate Braga's game to destroy it himself.

Braga's top guy is Ramon Campos (John Ortiz) who not only commands a small army but is looking for drivers "who would sell their abuelita to get a spot" on his team. To do so Dom and Brian must go head to head and that means more fast cars, more hot women, more racing. Even though there's sensuality in the form of those various girls making out, Brian gets some romance by trying to rekindle his relationship with Mia, while Dom catches the eye of Campos's associate Giselle (Gal Gadot), who questions whether he appreciates women as much as cars. I was actually pleased that some maturity and restraint was actually shown in this aspect of the story, with Dom, still mourning Letty, choosing not to jump into bed with this new woman. (At least not before the end credits.)

As I said before, audiences don't go see these films for any form of a story or plot, though a little creativity wouldn't hurt. Just stick in all of those familiar elements and a soundtrack featuring the latest artists and the young crowd eats this stuff up. That may be why of all four films I enjoyed 'Tokyo Drift' the most. The cast was comprised of characters basically the same age as the audience these films are made for and there was no plot involving drug dealers, hijacking or smuggling, just high school kids racing for turf and street cred. When things become convoluted by Diesel's machismo, tough guy supporting players like Ortiz and his henchman Laz Alonzo or figuring out just who the bad guy is, it ends up unintentionally comical. Diesel and Walker never really had chemistry to begin with, so when they try to share their feelings (or attempt to act) by looking off into the distance instead of at each other, it's impossible not to laugh.

There's also a chase across the desert that continues through a series of tunnels running inside a mountain in Mexico that makes no sense at all. I guess its not really supposed to, but that doesn't mean I can't wonder just who built those tunnels and how long did it take them to do it?

Justin Lin, who showed promise with his 2003 debut "Better Luck Tomorrow" and also helmed 'Tokyo Drift', seems to have a better handle on the material than previous directors Rob Cohen and John Singleton. He's smart enough not to cut action sequences together like a music video, but still make it visually exhilarating. That's really what this franchise is all about, visual thrills. Whether it be fast cars or girls making out, if that's your pleasure 'Fast & Furious' certainly delivers.