Very rarely does a movie come along with an action sequence so amazing that it saves the entire film. Most terrible movies have decent action sequences that can hardly pull the rest of the film out of the mire that it has found itself in. It is thus a pleasure when you sit through a movie disappointed for the most part only to be end up leaving the theater thinking how awesome it was thanks to a truly outstanding action sequence. Welcome to a perfect description of Fast Five.
Here's what you need to know about the plot. Everyone is back who was popular from the previous films and then they threw in Dwayne Johnson to add an extra level of kick ass. The entire gang finds themselves in Brazil where they're double crossed by the crime lord down there and thus swear revenge by concocting a plan to steal all his money. Meanwhile Johnson, as a wonderfully campy government agent named Hobbs, is chasing them down and attempting to bring them back to America for the supposed killing of three federal agents. The film basically takes a dramatic turn from car chase film into heist movie, and unfortunately is all the more boring for it.
Now before I tear into this I need to go back to the action to explain that when the plot isn't trying to advance itself and the characters aren't attempting to be all developed through emotional things like having a child and family this movie rocks. The opening action sequence, a ludicrous train heist straight out of some insane Western, is awesome and the concluding car chase through the streets of downtown Rio will blow your mind. The latter is both original and stupidly awesome in almost every way and makes you leave the theater forgetting you had to sit through the rest of the film. There's even a decent foot chase over the rooftops of Rio's slums. Sadly, between these moments of mindless action is a lot of really bad dialog and plot. The heist makes next to no sense and the characters are beyond flat. Does anyone really believe that we tune into these movies to see how Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster's relationship is doing? There is even a moment where it appears that they cut out an actual car chase so they could fit more dialog in. It doesn't make sense, especially when you consider that the heist that takes place is about as clever as Johnson's right bicep.
Speaking of Johnson, he happens to be the only character worth watching on screen. Hamming it up to a degree usually reserved for the likes of Bruce Campbell, he steals almost every scene he is in by actually realizing he isn't in a serious movie. Meanwhile the other actors perform like they actually want to be taken seriously and ruin much of the film because of it (not that the screenplay they're working off of helped much). Even worse is the fact that the Diesel/Johnson fist fight that everyone was so excited about seeing is butchered by being over cut and too short. It also doesn't help that Johnson is clearly in better shape than Diesel and probably about 50 pounds heavier. Thankfully it appears that Johnson will be returning in the franchises next installment so we have at least one thing to look forward to and maybe an attempt to make up for Diesel and his abysmal fist fight.
You're definitely not getting your money's worth for the majority of Fast Five, but once you strap in for that last action sequence you truly stop caring. I wish I could steer you clear of this movie for all of its flaws, but seeing the car chase at the end of this film on the big screen is what the movies are all about. Just nestle in for some serious stupidity until you get to the serious stupidity that is actually fun to watch.
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