Fast & Furious 6 copies what made its predecessor so rejuvenating, just set in London.

Rating: 6/10 (20 July 2019)

'Fast Five' was a franchise high, transforming a forgettable street-racing montage into an action extravaganza that disregards all laws of physics. This sequel doesn't add too much to Hollywood's popular soap-opera, but it didn't need to. "Family" and absurd set pieces is what you want, and Lin certainly delivers them. Just a shame the fluffiness in between marks for some dangerous pacing issues. More swerve-inducing than a learner driver thinking they could outrace Dominic Toretto! The infamous team of criminals are recruited by the beefcake that is Luke Hobbs, in an attempt to retrieve a world-threatening component back from another team of criminals. Oh, and Letty is alive working for the opposing team. So it just got personal!
This sixth instalment waves the usual traits found in this franchise right in your face. Babes in skimpy attire almost pleasuring themselves on top of muscle cars before a street race? Check. Vin Diesel grumbling his way through dialogue? Definitely. "Family" being the most commonly used word in the third screenplay? Probably. And enough delirious action set pieces that forces you to question every physic known to man? Absolutely. Pushing aside CGI Dom launching himself through the air to catch Letty across a bridge and landing safely on the bonnet of a car, it's just an enjoyable action film that knows exactly what it is. Audiences came for outrageous and memorable set pieces, Lin delivered them. Viewers wanted interactions between their favourite character, Lin granted them to us.
This is the pivotal instalment that solidified the direction of the franchise, so it made perfect sense not to change up the overall tone. That being said, some captivating substance in between the blistering action would've been appreciated. It's just heavy-handed storytelling, spelling out the plot with magnetic letters one may find on their fridge door, and some forced humorous moments for Gibson's character. Not nearly as tantalising as a tank decimating oncoming traffic or cinema's longest runway in existence (nearly fifteen minutes of full throttle acceleration). Consequently, this does produce several lulling moments, perhaps forcing you to look at your watch. The cast are all enjoying themselves and rarely push their talent, although Evans was probably the first memorable antagonist in the entire series, but they didn't need to in all honesty.
The high-octane gear changing speaks for itself. There's enough diesel in this sequel to produce a rip-roaring fun action blockbuster, if you can get passed the inconsistent pacing in its elongated runtime. Oh, and Rita Ora...