FAST AND FURIOUS (PG-13)
1.5 stars
Anyone holding his breath to find out what happened to Dom (Vin Diesel) after 2001’s “The Fast and the Furious” has long since passed out. For anyone else still interested in the exploits of this brutish criminal (who didn’t factor into the previous sequels), Dom and FBI agent Brian (Paul Walker) return to take down a violent drug lord. Also back are Jordana Brewster as Dom’s sister/Brian’s ex and Michelle Rodriguez as Dom’s best gal.
The buzz: In the last seven years, these actors’ stocks have fallen like, uh, most actual stocks. The series has likewise trickled downward from the entertaining first installment to 2003’s spotty “2 Fast 2 Furious” to 2006’s ridiculously cliche, star-free “Tokyo Drift.” At least “Fast and Furious” can’t be as unnecessary as the latest “Street Fighter” movie. Right?
The verdict: Par for the course: Dumb dialogue and Walker possessing fewer rough edges than pudding. But “Fast and Furious” doesn’t even emphasize heart-pounding races, the series’ bread and butter. It also suffers from the charisma strike that Diesel seems to have launched after shooting the original. (This guy belongs in the dictionary next to the word “uninspired.”) Gone is the fun, vicarious thrill of badass guys racing killer cars and rolling with gorgeous girls they actually care about. What remains is the saga of unhappy, amoral and unlikable morons fighting crime. Not the same.
rewind
Matt’s picks for what’s still playing
Duplicity (PG-13)
Spicy, sexy, smart and fun.
3.5 stars
I Love You, Man (R)
We love you, Paul Rudd and Jason Segel.
3.5 stars
Goodbye Solo (NR)
Director Ramin Bahrani is one to watch.
3 stars
Monsters vs. Aliens (PG)
Nothing to worry about, Pixar.
2 stars
The Haunting in Connecticut (PG-13)
Uh, define generic.
1 star
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