MANILA, Philippines—The newest installment to the Fast and Furious movie franchise is packed with adrenalin and testosterone at every twist and turn.
Directed by Justin Lin, Fast Five is set in breathtaking Rio de Janeiro, where ex-cop Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) and Mia Torreto (Jordana Brewster) are on the run after helping Dominic Torreto (Vin Diesel) escape prison.
The stakes are higher as they come face to face with the ringleader of Rio’s biggest and most influential crime syndicate. Brian, Dominic and Mia, along with several of their friends decide to pull one last heist but chances of pulling it off, which was originally slim, was dampened even more by the appearance of elite federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) who is determined to catch them at any cost.
The film definitely shines the most from the Fast and Furious franchise as it focuses on good old, adrenaline-pumping car chase action. Rio also proves to be a genius location, its rows upon rows of homes, narrow alleyways, not to mention its majestic beaches, adding a dramatic and exotic feel to the film.
Between surges of action packed car chases, Lin and writer Chris Morgan manage to inject bouts of humor among the members of the elite team of car racers with Brian, Mia and Dominic: Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), Tej Parker (Ludacris), Han Lue (Sung Kang), Tego Leo (Tego Calderon) and Gisele Harabo (Gal Gadot).
And of course, whoever can pass off fight scenes between Johnson and Diesel must be crazy.
Fast Five started zooming past Philippine theaters last May 5 is currently “on the run.”