Fast and Furious 6

I love this series. Like, really love it. Somehow this franchise has gone from two mildly popular racing movies to a seemingly in name only sequel set in Tokyo to 3 back to back entries that not only embraced the previous films' history but successfully turned itself into one of the biggest and best action series we have today.

Now, as I stated in my old review of Fast Five, six movies in and you're either with theses movies or you're not. If you're in, then Fast and Furious 6 will absolutely not disappoint.

Speaking of Fast Five, I should mention how special that movie is to this particular action series. Director Justin Lin stepped it up in every way possible, effectively putting the Fast and Furious franchise in a league all its own, thanks to the addition of Dwayne Johnson and Lin's acceptance of practical stunts and effects over the franchise CGI norm. In short, it was awesome.

Walking into Fast and Furious 6 I was more than a little worried that it would have a hard time living up to it's immediate predecessor, and for the first hour I thought I was right. Don't get me wrong, I was loving it. Up to that point it was at least as good as part 4, but it was lacking that special something that helped Fast Five soar.

And then it happened. A sensual, flirty car race between Dom and the resurrected Letty. It's a sequence so silly and so ludacris (sorry) that it's easily among the franchises most silly ( and best ) moments.

 Look, these movies know exactly what they are and don't ever for a second pretend to be anything else. And no, that doesn't fall into the category of so bad its good. These movies set a goal to entertain and have hit the mark pretty much every time, which is pretty remarkable when you think about it.


Another asset of these films have been its cast, and of course they're all here in this installment. I don't particularly love every single cast member outside of these movies, but they all fit in this universe and I enjoy their camaraderie here. A lot of the goodwill we have for these guys are used up in that first hour as the film takes its time to set everything up and showcase some good if not great action set pieces.

But after that first hour, man oh man. There are two major action sequences in the last half of Fast and Furious 6 that are so over the top and so big and include moments that are so entirely impossible but who cares because they are awesome that I sincerely cannot imagine how they are going to top them going forward.  In other words, they deliver the goods and then some.

I also have to say that as a devoted fan of the franchise, that I genuinely got caught up in the few moments where the movie attempts some drama with Dom's insistence of family above all else. But I like movies, so whatever.

Yes, I'm a die hard Fast and Furious fan, and I can honestly say that Fast and Furious 6 has set a high bar for the rest of the summer. Overall, I think Fast Five is still the reigning champ of this series, but FF6 still has it where it counts. Vin and Dwayne make a great duo in a particularly awesome brawl, and even Michelle Rodriguez and Gina Carano ( who is awful at acting but great at fighting) have two especially entertaining bouts. Also, its ending tag finally ties the film to Tokyo Drift, and holy shit it's a doozy. In fact, that end sequence is so good that I dare you to successfully fight the urge to scream " FUCK YES!" as it rolls before your eyes. We might finally get a genuinely menacing villain next go around, which has been a weak point for the series since the beginning. Anyways, Fast and Furious 6 is awesome, so you know, go see it. 

Pain and Gain

Hey dudes. I've seen more than a few movies since Evil Dead, and you can find reviews of those films here.

However, as awesome as it is to have the opportunity to write for Cary Citizen, I have to admit my one displeasure with the experience so far.

They wouldn't let me review Pain and Gain.

Oh well, I went and saw it on my own so here goes nothing.

First things first, I'm a Bay enthusiast. I love it all. I even own the criterion versions of The Rock and Armageddon because duh. He's been busy with robot movies for 6 years now, and while I love robots I was more than ready to see Bay return to the chaotic artistry he so brilliantly displayed in his action masterpiece, Bad Boys II. Thankfully, Pain and Gain does not disappoint and Bay gleefully brings us the true story of 3 bodybuilders who kidnap and torture a local Miami millionaire until he signs all of his riches over to them.

What's most remarkable about Pain and Gain isn't the fact that this really happened, it's how it happened. These guys were absolute morons, and there is no way things should have gotten as far as they did simply due to their own stupidity. Things like buckling up their victim when trying to murder him in a car wreck because it's against the law not to, for example. And Bay could not have found better actors to portray these hulking wanna be thieves. 

Mark Wahlberg has always excelled at comedy and has gotten better as a performer as the years went on, but when he goes to full on idiot mode there's no stopping him. His character, Danny, believes he deserves the American dream because well, look at him, he's ripped. Forget hard work and determination, Danny just knows he is worth it and when he sees an opportunity to steal everything from a self-made millionaire douche-bag, he jumps at the chance. Walhberg adapts to director Bay's style of chaotic excess perfectly and nails every ridiculous line after another, my personal favorite being that he can handle the situation because, as he puts it, "I've seen a lot of movies." Just brilliant.

Anthony Mackie also does a great job as Walhberg's co-worker who has recently felt some serious effects from steroid use. Mackie actually has some of the best lines in the movie and in a true testament to his performance, his character almost comes off as likable, a serious achievement considering the things these guys did.

But of course, the one and only Dwayne Johnson steals the show in a hilarious performance that starts at Jesus freak and goes all the way to coke fiend. His scene at a local neighborhood watch meeting is one of the best in the movie, and it convinces me that he can do no wrong as a performer. Seriously, he is amazing and I love him.

I really hope Bay makes more movies like this. Yes, I love it when he does mass destruction with what seems like an unlimited budget, but with Pain and Gain he spent pennies compared to his other movies which allowed him free reign to do exactly what he wanted. The result is a hilarious and unbelievable tale of excess and selfishness that only a director like Bay could deliver.


Oh, and before I go here is a great video from Badass Digest defending Michael Bay in all his glory.


I will be seeing Iron Man 3 this Friday and should have a review on Cary Citizen not too long after that.

So until then, dudes.