Fast Five

If it weren't for the fight scene and the fact that more films are still being made, this would have been a great finale to the series. The stories of the familiar characters come full circle during a big action ride that's not just about cars, but also gets into contact fights, shootouts... Justin Lin's predatory direction, Dwayne Johnson's super charismatic bad guy, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker clearly having a blast, plus Brian Tyler's stomping score that finally gets a proper airing... And that giant vault finale, which really took my breath away (and which was rather stupidly robbed by the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean, but I won't get into that here). I've been waiting for a movie this good since the first film in the series, The Fast and the Furious. (13/05/2020)

The series is transforming from a tuning exhibition for teenagers to full-blooded action blockbusters, where the roar of engines is drowned out by fusillades from machine guns and shotguns. Fast Five offers a well-coordinated team of partners in crime, the wild jungle of Rio de Janeiro and a surprisingly elaborate and ambitious script that overshadowed Bay’s Bad Boys II (which is thematically similar in many ways and met with mixed reviews). The movie’s creators hit the bull’s-eye by casting The Rock, who boosted the film to the testosterone maximum. In a single 130-minute film, there are no fewer than three bands of tough guys equipped with great cars and big guns fighting one another. What more can we wish for in this genre? (05/05/2011)

Hands down, the best episode of the series. Unfortunately, the overwrought pivotal action scene at the end, with a half demolished Rio and a massive vault behind two bulldozers, was too far beyond the edge of acceptability for my taste. And when they open their mouths in the non-action passages and the characters spout life's truths and wisdoms, even Mrs. Cliché and Stupidity run to hide behind the camera in terror, it was really hard to listen to. Thanks at least for Dwayne's character of Agent Hobbs, because you can never have enough of The Rock and his fist fight with Diesel, when the surrounding walls were collapsing like styrofoam backdrops, brought me out of my lethargy. (08/05/2011)

Who admired two years ago the old-fashioned approach combining action movies with relentless car chases will praise Justin Lin even more this time. Exactly the same thing happened to me. Although the fourth installment was a very pleasant spectacle, it simply pales in comparison to the fifth in every aspect. Another gear of speed is here and a real action gem comes, where you don't have to question yourself if you really like it or if you are making some small favor to well-known faces. Because here, you won't even have time to catch your breath properly. This is especially true for the infernal final half-hour, which is so dazzling and (in a good sense) deafening that it has rightfully elevated the franchise from being a familiar favorite to a massively visited series of blockbusters. And the biggest asset? Dwayne Johnson's beastly character and his already iconic role. 85% (27/05/2011)

A contented smile spread across my face while I was watching the safe ripping up the asphalt from the streets of Rio. The screenplay is about as clever as for the preceding F&Fs, but they are all such nice guys and, as a fan of this genre, my jaw is constantly lying in my lap. In part five, it’s not so much cars, but muscles that are important. Diesel put on weight to make his fight with Dwayne “Rock" Johnson convincing, but The Rock (otherwise his Hobbs is tougher than a piece of flint and so he’s maybe unwittingly funnier than he is meant to be) seems to have gotten so psyched up that he looks even more massive than normal (damn, another reason to start going to the gym, but I wonder how long my eagerness will last). And the fight looks all the better for it, step aside Terminators. The cars and the girls (Jordana Brewster gets hotter with every episode) are delightful as always and the preparation for the heist with the now traditional T-shirt at the end is the icing on the cake. A shame that sometimes the “snappy" lines sound awkward, although Diesel delivers them in style, so you only notice this in the supporting roles. The biggest capo who saves the movie is the director, Justin Lin, who knows exactly what he’s doing and what the audience expects from this kind of movie. The post-credits scene made me look forward to number six even more. Bring it on. That's for my team, you son of a bitch. (08/05/2011)