After the crew walked away with millions of dollars at the end of Fast 5, the team members went their separate ways except for Dom (Vin Diesel), Brian (Paul Walker), Elena (Elsa Pataky) and Mia (Jordana Brewster). They all settled down in the Canary Islands with a new baby added to the family.

Dom and Brian are content to put their old life behind them and settle down. Though, that didn’t mean they put away their hot rides and fast driving. That all changes when Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) shows up on their doorstep asking for their help.

Spoiler alert: This article discusses specific details from the film. If you haven’t seen it yet, please stop reading. For review of the movie, check out Cisco Davis, Jr’s Fast and Furious 6 review.

After the initial scene that launched the story, the opening credits are not to be missed. They recounted the Fast & Furious story through a series of clips with the exception of Tokyo Drift which takes place after this film in the series timeline. Even though Brian questioned whether Hobbes was playing a trick on Dom about Letty’s whereabouts, he was going to stand by his friend to the end. Even Mia agreed with their decision to pursue the lead by helping Hobbes. Getting the team back together was easier than it probably should have been, but to play that out fully would have been a drag on the film’s pacing. Instead, it involved guns pulled and Las Vegas buffet vouchers. And, boom! They were back together. For full immunity and pardons, they were willing to go to work with their former pursuer, Hobbes.

After Fast 5, it seemed impossible that the series could up its quality and intensity, but it did just that. Fast & Furious 6 never had a moment that dragged. It moved at a quick pace and even the long fight scenes and car chases remained captivating from beginning to end. Shaw was a formidable, smart, and quite charming adversary. His set-up to draw in the authorities, kill police, and then get away was brilliant. And, the destruction of the building, explosions, and following car chase were an electrifying way to begin the quest to stop Shaw.

As with all of the car chases and fights, there were moves that were a bit ridiculous and unbelievable if overthought, but they all looked good. And, in a thriller like this, that matters more than whether its physically possible or not. The pursuit of the convoy and then the tank provided many of those moments. The most incredible — both implausible and astonishing at the same time — moment was when Letty was flung off the tank, Dom leaped for her, with them both flying through the air, he caught her and they landed safely on another car.

Impossible? Definitely. Awesome? Absolutely!

The fight scenes were also a highlight. In particular, I loved the simultaneous fights in the subway. The girl vs. girl fight between Letty and Riley and then the two-on-one fight of the guys. And, the rematch between Letty and Riley on the plane was an added bonus. The opposing philosophies of the two crews provided a backbone to the conflict. Shaw was goal-oriented and would do whatever he needed in order to get the job done. People were just pieces that could be moved in and out as necessary. He did seem to have some affection for Letty, but even that bond was tenuous. While Dom’s crew was bonded by love and a familial connection, Shaw used that to his advantage and against them when he captured Mia. With her captured, there was no choice but to turn over the chip. In the process, they got Letty back, but Riley was exposed as a traitor. Hobbes showed his humanity when he pulled his gun on the Interpol agents in support of Dom and Brian. He turned his back on the law and at least for that moment joined their family. It was an unexpected, but touching moment.

The final showdown on the runway with the planes and cars was the big action sequence that was difficult to follow at times. In a way, that might be a symptom of not understanding why the pilots didn’t realize they had extra loads earlier and land. For the sake of the story, it worked and was well-done. And, the fight came at the cost of lives. Throughout all the close calls, someone from the family had to die and it was Gisele. Her death though set into motion the next step in the Fast & Furious mythology.

With the chip saved and worth billions, the crew negotiated a new deal. Immunity, pardons, and “1327.” Dom was taking the family back to where it all started … home! The barbecue was a moving send-off. They finally found some peace and until they get called into action again, they can adjust into a “normal” life. Dom with Letty. And, his sister with Brian and baby. That sweet family moment was in direct conflict with what happened to Han. He headed to Tokyo as he planned to do with Gisele. And, to see his story, check out The Fast and the Furious: Toyko Drift. That film takes place following Fast & Furious 7 in the franchise timeline. In that film, Han is killed during a street race.

After the credit roll, an extended scene from Tokyo Drift appeared. It’s revealed that Han was killed by Ian Shaw (Jason Statham). Ian calls up Dom and says, “You don’t know me, but you are about to.” WHOA! And, with that Fast & Furious 7 began.

Despite the few incredulous moments, Fast and Furious 6 was one of the best action movies. It had an actual plot that made sense with the action sequences moving the story along. The re-introduction of Letty was plausible with the connection between the cartel and Shaw. The fight and action sequence choreography was awesome. And, for a film like Fast and the Furious, that can make or break it. Overall, loved it. One word: Outstanding!

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If you would have told me back in 2001 that The Fast and the Furious would go on to become a ridiculously successful film franchise spanning over five movies and counting, I probably would have laughed in your face. But as time went on I can honestly say that I really didn’t see it coming, because The Fast and the Furious franchise snowballed into a feverish sleeper hit of a film franchise that even I enjoy watching — especially on the big screen.

With a huge ensemble cast starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Sung Kang, Luke Evans and more, Fast & Furious 6 picks up after Dominic Toretto (Diesel) and his criminal gang of street racers finished their Rio de Janeiro heist in the last film.

Now retired and living abroad with the millions he and his team got away with, Toretto is confronted by a ghost from his past when Diplomatic Security Services agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) presents him with information that his long-believed dead girlfriend Letty (Rodriguez) is still alive and working jobs for a known mercenary and terrorist named Owen Shaw (Evans). Hobbs offers to clear Toretto and his gang of their criminal records in exchange for joining forces to take down Shaw. The movie only gets more entertaining from there.

Probably the best thing about this movie is that it is a great action movie with an uncanny sense of pacing. Fast & Furious 6 is very reminiscent of a roller coaster ride, the pacing picks up with high octane action sequences and chases and just as you’ve gotten your fill, the film will slow down just long enough for you to catch your breath and digest just enough of the plot before the action picks up again. With such a large cast and so many things that are going on at the same time this movie was pieced together brilliantly.

The acting wasn’t anything to write home about, but for a summer action flick it gets the job done, just as it had in the last five films. I’ve never been a Paul Walker fan since I saw a scene of him in Timeline where he couldn’t even iron a shirt convincingly, and he was able to do his role without distracting me from the film’s story. Tyrese Gibson’s character helps move the film along with his comedic relief and the way he bounces off Chris Bridges’ character, and the duality between Johnson’s and Diesel’s characters made for a great onscreen dynamic as well. Ever since Fast Five I was waiting for a full-on team-up between Toretto’s gang and agent Hobbs. This film doesn’t disappoint.

Fast & Furious 6 boasts great cinematography which just adds to the film’s pros. Then again, when shot in exotic locales such as the Canary Islands or vibrant cities like Tokyo and London it’s no surprise. And when you add colorful cars into mix topped off with slow-motion butt shots of scantily clad women walking by, it’s pretty much the best cinematography you can expect from a car culture film.

If you have to ask if there are any glaring downsides about the film my answer would be “not necessarily.” Fast & Furious 6 does suffer from your typical popcorn action movie tropes. The characters are one-dimensional for the most part but don’t drag down the story with their cookie-cutter roles. And thanks to the film’s genius-level of pacing there’s enough balance between fast and furious action and just enough drama and comedy to keep you entertained for the long haul.

Fast & Furious 6 is the best film in the series to date and I look forward to the next one. Watch this movie with a packed crowd and you will get sucked into the true experience of why summer action films are made: to entertain our socks off!

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