An inconsistent attempt at what could have been so much more.

Rating: 6/10 (16 March 2002)

Taking one of the words out of the title, I am furious that the film did not live up to its potential. By this I mean the fact that yet again, we have a dumb Hollywood script laden with the corniest lines imaginable. Credibility is also riding high in deficiency, when you consider the fact that Vin Diesel's character must be invincible, seeing as how he manages to escape injury, after colliding with a truck at over 150 mph. Retreating back from the criticism for a moment, the cars in the film are breathtaking and the score certainly pumps out serious wattage--although that's the problem, the cars are the focus point and being that's the case, shouldnt Rob Cohen (the director) have constructed better action sequences, that actually had depth enough to keep his audience entertained. You would think so.
Struggling to find a commendable word to say I can only consider the aspects about the film that could have been so easily improved, given the subject matter; if you think about it fast cars, babes, violence and sex should make for a solid, thrilling 90 minutes. Instead we settle for the sluggish, dull experience that most of us would gladly replace with GONE IN 60 SECONDS any day of the week. Let's face it at least GONE IN 60 had Angelina, not to mention action guru Jerry Bruckheimer on board.
Despite the distinct lack of praise from, well a large proportion of the western hemisphere, 'THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS' still managed to be lucrative by taking $144 million at the US box office. Are those Japanese imports really that amazing?