Part of Action Distraction
Dude meets dude, it’s a tale as old as time — or at least as old as POINT BREAK. The alpha and omega of effortlessly diverse, big-budget bromances kicks off in this NOS and Corona-fuelled saga of an undercover cop (Paul Walker) and the gang of street racers led by the charismatic Dominic Toretto (the too-aptly-named Vin Diesel) that he’s tasked with infiltrating.
Twelve films, myriad imitators and many multiplex fender benders later, and the rest, as they say, is history. Say what you will about this massive Hollywood franchise that never seems to end (praise be), but its humble beginnings show a commitment to character-driven action, practical stunts, and a true love and respect for the subculture it’s depicting unlike much of the cash-grab excess on offer of late by the big studios. Live your life a quarter mile at a time, and don’t forget to bring along La Familia (blood or chosen, it’s all good).
“A film that should serve to define ‘guilty pleasure’ for at least the rest of the summer.” —Joe Leydon, The Moving Picture Show (Jun 22, 2001) “It doesn't matter that we know where it's going, what counts is that Cohen keeps his pedal to the floor and that his actors gun their lines with absolute conviction. Loud cars, fast music: this movie knows exactly what it's about.” —Time Out
