Fast and Furious 4

Rating PG13 Genre action Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez Directed by Justin Lin Publisher Universal Studios

This fourth installment of the Fast and Furious series hit records for opening day viewership, and yet the film itself is lacking in many ways. The story seems to be a transition between Tokyo Drift and whatever happens to come next in the series, yet the timeline feels off as well. The film, which starts with a flashback to an earlier time, seems to all happen in a period before the third film, but that isn’t clarified. Viewers, even avid fans, might be confused about the time frame of the film. 

Another disappointment in this film is the lack of big stars! Although Vin Diesel and Paul Walker definitely spend a lot of on-screen time, the fan excitement over seeing the lovely Michelle Rodriguez back on the top 4 billing is quickly fizzled out five minutes into the movie. (Don’t worry, I won’t ruin the surprise.) Also, the cars. Considering the import models that show up in theater parking lots all over the country, fans are expecting to see their favorite cars in action, but that doesn’t happen as often as expected in this film. 

This film focuses a lot on character development, yet shies away from explaining how some characters get to the places they are. There are big holes in the plot that can cause both confusion and frustration for viewers. In spite of all that,  the film does have some appealing features, such as humorous moments, excellent action sequences, and strong cinematography.

Overall, the film is a little disappointing, especially after all the hype. While Tokyo Drift seemed to reveal a lesson in racing over violence as a means to solving differences, this story takes a step backwards. The general consensus seems to be that there had better be at least one more installment in the series in order to make Fast and Furious complete.