Review: Fast & Furious 6

MANILA, Philippines - The audience clapped (three times) and the audience gasped. It was all “Fast & Furious 6” needed to complete the whole shebang.

A Manila premiere that brought Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Gina Carano, and Luke Evans (as well as select foreign press) here had everyone hyped—and much deservedly so. This was Manila’s first big Hollywood franchise that cared enough to bring in four of its film’s stars.

Even Diesel, who was clearly emotional about the whole thing, would not stop saying that this has been the best premiere he’s been to and that as soon as he returns to the studio, he’ll tell executives that they should certainly consider shooting scenes for future FF films in Manila.

So before I drift away from the review, is the sixth installment really the best they’ve done so far?

Granted, the film is not designed for any acting awards, it does however deliver some over the top stunts that director Justin Lin was able to pull off with style. There will be a tank, an aircraft carrier, and even some wrestling action and lingo as well as MMA fighting care of Carano as Riley, a member of Hobbs’ team.

Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) recruits Dominic Toretto (Diesel) and his team—a family as he calls it—to retrieve a device from ex-SAS officer Owen Shaw (Evans). While Toretto would rather spend his time with Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky), Hobbs shows him a picture of Letty Ortiz (Rodriguez) as one of Shaw’s accomplices.

In exchange for their service, Toretto wants immunity and full pardon when they return to the US. The chase takes them to London and Spain and much of the entertainment really comes from the action sequences. Unexpected comedy from the bumbling duo Han (Sung Kang) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson) was also quite refreshing.

Evans character could have been made more menacing while Carano would have been a nice permanent addition to Toretto’s squad. While there’s a tender scene between Ortiz and Toretto, it was a minor speed bump in what is otherwise a frenetic movie.

“Fast & Furious 6” is satisfying in that it also closes the loop from “Tokyo Drift” just before the end credits rolled, revealing at the same time what the next installment holds, causing the audience to clap and gasp once more.

(Special thanks goes out to GBX Philippines for inviting me to the premiere. "Fast and Furious 6" is released and distributed by United International Pictures. It will open across Philippine theatres on May 24.)

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