“The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” (Universal Pictures)
Too Much Action And Not Enough Talk
The franchise of “The Fast and the Furious” is back in a third incarnation titled “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.” This time out Lucas Black (“Slingblade”/”Friday Night Lights”) is the leading man instead of either Vin Diesel or Paul Walker. The cars still look good but young Mr. Black isn’t charismatic enough to carry the film, and the Tokyo locale adds nothing.
Sean (Black) is having trouble at home. His parents are divorced and his driving gets him in trouble with the law. He is ordered by the court to move to Japan where his father is stationed and live with him. There he meets up with a group of kids who are into “drifting” which is a way of sliding a car when it is going fast around a curve.
There he also meets Neela (Nathalie Kelley), a girl who is trouble with a capitol “T.” Sean is attracted to her and also likes the cool way the kids handle cars in Japan. He jumps right into their life style and his father seems to go along with it.
Eventually he has a problem with one individual and they settle their differences with a race down a mountain on a winding road. It is like seeing the “chicken” race in “Rebel Without A Cause” if you catch my drift.
There is nothing in this movie of interest except the car races. They are filmed with all the adrenaline rush that can be projected on the screen. But when the cars aren’t flying by the movie comes to a screeching halt. Black and company just can’t stir up any interest.
Now I do have to say Kelley is a real beauty, and with a solid role she could be outstanding in a movie. But not in this one. She is just window dressing in the worst sort of way. And her romance with Black, well it might as well be science fiction. Not in this lifetime!
It is also disconcerting to see cars racing through downtown Tokyo and pedestrians having to run for their lives. It seems like the car race is the important thing and all else is at their mercy. Not a good message for the film to have. There is an advisory at the end of the movie saying not to try these types of races, but a lot of good that will do.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
This type of movie sets a bad example for young drivers, and glamorizes speed to the nth degree. The “heroes” of the film never get hurt and that adds to the teenage feeling of invincibility. If you see this film you had better watch out for “drifting” drivers heading out of the parking lot at the theater.
I scored “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” a squealing 4 out of 10.
