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THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS (PG-13)

Plot Summary: An undercover cop gets involved in a street racing gang but faces a conflict when his feelings interfere with his job.

Reason for the Rating: Violence, sexual content and language.

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS may not seem the most clever or unique title for a film, but anyone who sees this movie will understand that it couldn’t be more appropriately named. 

It’s fast. It’s furious. And that pretty much sums it up.

I suppose a little more detail would be nice, but be forewarned: it’s difficult to write a review of this movie without using the adjectives “fast” and “furious” a thousand times!

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS is an action-packed movie. Every minute bursts with excitement, never pausing or slowing the pace. The footage of car racing is amazing, without needing computer animation or digital enhancement. It features REAL action: very fast cars doing very cool tricks at 160 miles per hour. Beyond this, the plot is good, too. 

Paul Walker plays Brian, the undercover cop who gains acceptance in a gang of illegal racers led by Dom, (Vin Diesel) the most formidable and well-respected racer around. Brian is investigating a series of highway hijackings performed by some fancy racecar drivers. The police are pretty sure Dom’s behind the crimes, but it’s Brian’s job to make certain. Some very unexpected plot twists follow. 

The line between good and bad becomes blurred, and Brian begins to genuinely care for the people he’s involved with--criminals or not. He also falls in love with Dom’s sister, which further complicates things. Surprisingly, this movie doesn’t merely keep you on the edge of your seat with its breathtaking pace, but with its characters and plot issues also.

Unfortunately, this movie’s constant action is also crammed with a lot of smut, loading the film with sexual innuendo and footage. It features violence, alcohol, profanity, loose sexual attitudes, and crime, never taking a moral stand against these issues. It may have some positive features, but the negatives are also ones that must be taken into consideration. 

Interestingly, this movie seems to specifically target the teenage male audience, yet it includes many negative influences that an impressionable teenager doesn’t need. It’s definitely not a family movie.

FamilyFans.com Recommends: A lot of teens are going to see this movie—whether their parents want them to or not. If your teen expresses strong interest, be sure to view the movie with him or her, and then take time to discuss it afterward.

After the Show…If members of your family choose to view this movie, use these questions to spark discussion about it afterward:

-- Which characteristics of Dom and his friends were admirable? Which were their negative qualities?

-- Brian had to make a tough choice at the end of the movie. What kind of choice would you make in that situation?

-- How might the story of THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS have been different if Brian were an inner-city missionary instead of a police officer?

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