As a rule, the quality of film series noticeably decreases with each sequel. The first three installments of the "Fast & Furious" films were no different. But the fourth entry holds a real surprise: not only is it better than its direct predecessor, it also easily puts the second part in its pocket in terms of quality.
The reason for this is quite simple: the makers have managed to create a new model for "Fast & Furious. New model. Original Parts." reunite the stars of the first installment in front of the camera. And the return of Vin Diesel alone lends such coolness to Part 4 that minor and major script flaws, which his absence made painfully obvious especially in the third film, are readily forgiven. However, the fact that the story doesn't really take center stage here either shouldn't surprise anyone: Eight years after FBI agent Brian O`Conner (Paul Walker) let him go on the run, Dominic Toretto (Diesel) is living with the love of his life, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), in the Dominican Republic, where the couple is trying to build a new life by robbing tanker trucks. But his past keeps catching up with Dom, and so he decides to keep running on his own.
But a tragic murder case forces the ex-con to come back to L.A., where he must team up with Brian, of all people, to track down the mastermind behind the killing, a ruthless drug lord. And they do it with what they're most passionate about: lots and lots of horsepower!
"Fast & Furious. New model. Original Parts."is best popcorn cinema of the particularly action-packed variety. The fact that the dialogue is occasionally a bit flat and the plot doesn't overly engage the viewer's cerebral plexuses is actually less of a bother. The numerous racing scenes, from the spectacular tanker truck robbery at the beginning of the film to a fast chase through a secret and damn narrow mountain tunnel on the Mexican border, are, apart from the somewhat hectic editing technique, grandiose staged and push the horsepower-loving viewer mercilessly in the cinema chair. About 250 different "Muscle Cars" from the USA, Japan and Europe make the film a real feast for car enthusiasts. And the fact that there are masses of attractive people in and on the cars is not really unpleasant to the eye.
However, some scenes seem to satirize the most primitive desires of hormonally controlled male teenagers. So at a big party of the illegal car racing scene not only quite a few lightly dressed girls loll on the hoods of the fancy vehicles, many also pass the time by simply making out with each other - something that can of course be observed at any party. Here it is to be hoped of course that the Macher such "heiße" scenes do not really mean seriously, but the whole scene rather with a wink regard. Because otherwise something like that can easily seem unintentionally funny and rob the film of its coolness.
But the strip wins it back at the latest in a particularly explosive scene, in which Dom gets into the field of fire of the drug dealers. Rarely has an (anti-)hero reacted so cool to being shot as Vin Diesel presents it here. Moments like this increase the fun factor of the fourth "Fast & Furious" movie immensely. Only the rekindled love between Brian and Dom's sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) feels a bit forced in the fast-paced action and is not so much an important plot thread as a small gift to fans of the first installment, in which that very love took a central role.
"Fast & Furious. New model. Original Parts."may not be particularly intelligent, nor truly original. But the movie is just plain fun and, with Vin Diesel, brings back the key ingredient that made the first installment so successful. Fast cars, cool guys, sexy ladies and a snappy soundtrack - for fans of the series all good reasons not to miss this film. And therefore also applies to these same viewers: absolutely worth seeing!
Original title: Fast & Furious
Director: Justin Lin
Length: approx. 107 min.
FSK: age 12+
