Fast Five


‘Running ain’t freedom. You know that.’ – Dom

As someone with limited knowledge and interested in the Fast and Furious, I didn’t think highly of the franchise. With eight films out and two more in the works, it’s not hard to assume that quality isn’t their focal point. However, Fast Five appears to be one of the better instalments from the speed racing franchise. In this film we are introduced to Dwayne Johnson’s character Luke Hobbs as he tracks down Dominic Toretto’s street racing crew to Brazil in order to arrest them for their crimes in America.
Initially we are led to believe that Hobbs is a character that takes pride in the team around him since he handpicks Elena Neves as his translator because he believes she can’t be bought. We could even call him well informed, but when Neves presents her own reasoned and accurate insight to help track down Toretto and his family, her input is literally thrown away. This is the first instance that reduced Johnson’s character to the muscular gimmick we see in Hobbs and Shaw.
They way in which Hobbs and Dominic Toretto value the people around them is one of the few similarities between the two. With Hobbs however we don’t get to witness the full extent of his team bond until then end, when it’s too late to be invested.
The franchise continues to move further from it’s street racing origins and deeper into the crime world with this fifth instalment. They tease us and fail to show us a classic street race which leads to them accumulating multiple cars. Both the acquisition of those fast cars and multiple police cars happens way to easily even for a well skilled group of criminals. 
Instead we see the friendly version between the main cast which although fun isn’t as adrenaline filled as prior street races. When they do get to driving, we get the pleasure of seeing them use NOS cans which is one of the few connecting elements in all the films.
Vince also makes a return from the first film which is good to see as it often feels like a franchise that so strongly presents the idea of family has so many people coming in and out that this becomes harder to believe.
For both those well versed in the Fast and Furious and those who just enjoy action, Fast Five can be enjoyed all the way through.


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