REVIEW: The Fast and the Furious (Released in 2001) [20th Anniversary]

DIRECTOR: Rob Cohen

PRODUCER: Neal H. Moritz

WRITERS: Gary Scott Thompson (screenplay/story) & Erik Bergquist & David Ayer (screenplay by)

PERFORMERS: Paul Walker Vin Diesel Michelle Rodriguez Jordana Brewster Rick Yune

Chad Lindberg Johnny Strong Ted Levine

With the release of the ninth installment just days away, I thought what better time than to head back to where it all started? I recently watched this film this past weekend and it's just as it was back then. It's almost hard to believe that it's been twenty years since we were introduced to the Toretto clan and the adventures they had together over the years. Touching on the themes of racing, respect, honor and most importantly: Family. But here's the incredible thing: no one expected this to go as far as it did and neither did I. The Fast and the Furious is one high-octane ride that sticks with you for the long haul.

I first saw this film in the theater after graduating from High School. At the time, I was hearing so much about it I thought 'why not?' At a time when cars meant freedom and racing meant gaining respect and admiration who didn't like those times growing up in the early 2000's? Let's be honest, there was a time when cars were a passion of ours. Every one we saw advertised on TV got us excited, so much in fact that we dreamed of owning the first car we laid eyes on. The exterior was either hot or not, the features were less important than they are today and if they were fast, they had our attention day and night. Here in this film, that theme is explored very greatly. In the 1990's you had action films like Point Break, Bad Boys, Speed and more specifically... The Matrix. They knew how to deliver and receive... with elegance. Combining the likes of American Graffiti (1973) & Point Break (1991), The Fast and the Furious tells the story of a young police officer working undercover as a street racer to apprehend a crew of hijackers. What he finds is what it truly means to be part of a family that molds you, stands up for you and even show you more to the activity than just the activity itself. A young Paul Walker plays this part so well and with so much elegance that you think you're looking at a another Keanu Reeves in his prime. Then there's Vin Diesel, who's the real star of the film, because even though he plays the one Walker's after, you route for him far more than Walker's character to get him. The more time you spend with this guy, the more you come to like him. You're drawn into his world and you see nothing wrong with it. Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster, however, really shine here and it's no secret that they were the second greatest thing about this show. Neither of them played girls who were weak and hopeless, but tough and smart and not taking no for an answer, Rodriguez in particular.

There were more visual effects than special because there were no cheesy images being overplayed in every frame when it came to the racing sequences. When Walker is racing alongside his opponents, you feel you're there with him as he shifts into full speed. As the camera pans forward, you think you're going so fast you can barely see straight. Perhaps the the only special effect I caught was when the drivers would shift into full speed. My single favorite moment in the film is the final race between Walker and Diesel and near the end are these insanely stunts that would never be attempted in reality: Outracing an oncoming train or surviving a near fatal car flip for a crash. There isn't a single person I know who would be daring enough to do those things and come out of them alive. Unlike the race between Paul Le Mat and Harrison Ford in American Graffiti the climactic race in this one leaves you breathless and more stunned than when Ford's car loses control and crashes. The fact that Director Rob Cohen did not rely on CGI when it came to stunts is just genius on his part. I wish more directors had his sense of direction when it came to films like this. Using CGI when absolutely necessary and not all the time.

It took me a long time, almost forever, but the storyline was also quite complex and not as predictable. Having a little touch of Point Break, like I said earlier, it's easy to see why people were rooting for Diesel's character to get away and leave the film at that because he was more identifiable than Walker's. In fact, you wanted to be Diesel far more than Walker because racing was a hot thing back then. If you had the guts, you had the nerve. If you had the means, you had the upper hand and at the end of the race... you were given you're due (2nd TIMOTHY 4:7-8). I got used to the storyline and understood it more as I got older. Honestly, I feel if this were explored more with the sequels they too would have had an indelible impact on me as this one did. I somehow never understood why they went from occasional street racing to taking down mobsters on a regular basis. But it makes sense as to why. How else would they have evolved into the people they are now? The racing aspect here was more explored than the others that came and went; before going into 'Ocean's Eleven' mode from there. Sure there were some moments of that in this one, but the film was better for it regardless.

As this review comes to a full stop, being behind the driver's seat of this review was a rather pleasant one. This film continues to stand the test of time and perhaps will continue to do so for many years to come. Sadly, Paul Walker is no longer with us but he'll always be remembered for his part in this franchise. Hard to believe it's been years since his untimely passing (nearly feels like yesterday just thinking about it). The chemistry between him and Diesel was undeniably there, the action was top notch, the effects worked their magic to get you in there and the need for speed was on your mind the whole race long! This film made me want to own and design a ten-second car and to this day, I still do! I'm not one for racing, but the idea of it intrigues me. If you're just as excited for the upcoming ninth film as I am, see where it all began... with this one! Speeding with this speed demon of a classic for it's twentieth anniversary has been a blast and worth revisiting. Happy 20th Anniversary to The Fast and the Furious and to Mr. Walker... where ever you are, I hope you're looking down on us all in heaven racing all the good races and winning the respect of others up there with you. Thank you for the memories and the legacy you left behind and be at peace.

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