This new action flick from director Rob Cohen was actually supposed to make it's debut back in April. The studio decided to hold the movie for summer, presumably because they thought they might have a hit on there hands after audiences seemed to marvel at the trailer. It has paid off because The Fast and the Furious had a huge opening weekend, and although this is hardly a classic, it's good fun nonetheless.

The Fast and the Furious takes a big cue from Point Break. You will see the comparisons almost immediately. And while comparing this movie to the Katheryn Bigelow actioneer is a big clue to one of this picture's big surprises, that's where I draw the line. It seems that nearly every critic wants to give away what little unpredictable moments The Fast and the Furious has to offer. Of course, it should be noted that this particular movie isn't really about plot structure. It's about relentless speed, and on that level, the picture delivers.

Paul Walker (featured in such classics as The Skulls and Varsity Blues) plays Brian O'Conner, a self assured auto mechanic who finds himself drawn to the kinetic world of underground street car racing in Southern California. His tour guide is bulky and tough Dominic Torello (Boiler Room's Vin Diesel), the pride and joy of the underground racing community. The two become unlikely friends when O'Conner saves Torello from being taken in by the cops.

Forget about being drawn in by realistic dialogue and strong, three dimensional characters. The Fast and the Furious fails on both of those levels. In fact, much of this film is downright silly. However, the car sequences in this picture do deliver with adrenaline pumping precision. Cohen is no master of cinema. It seems that he has made one really good movie. That would be Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (watch closely and you'll notice a cameo by the bio pic in this film). Following this, he was given an obscenely big budget and all but wasted it on the effects-heavy Dragonheart. Last year, however, was the capper as he subjected audiences to the insipid The Skulls, a film that made the top of my worst of list last year. I'll give Cohen this. He never tries to make The Fast and the Furious something it isn't. This is a straight forward dumb fest, but an immensely entertaining one, and his car chases really work. It should also be mentioned that as mindless as this picture is, it is far more entertaining than Sylvester Stallone's painfully dreadful Driven.

Few performances in this picture are really noteworthy. Diesel has all the makings of a big star. Even though he isn't given much to work with here, he has charisma and really commands the screen when he's on it. I also liked Ted Levine who appears in a small, thankless role as O'Conner's boss. Putting it mildly, I don't like Paul Walker at all. He's completely dull and I never bought him in the part. Many will compare him to Keanu Reeves with his blank stare and one note performance, but I wouldn't even go that far. Reeves has a goofy charm about him and although he has had his share of bad performances, I like him far more than this Walker guy. The females in this picture are really given nothing to do. Jordana Brewster is the love interest, and forgettable. Michelle Rodriguez (Girlfight) has the showier role as a tough talking racer and the girl of Diesel's affection. Unfortunately, she fails to elevate this role to Girlfight type status. Still, she does seem to be having a good time.

In the end, this movie is about the love of automobiles and racing. Cohen knows that and keeps the pace fast and furious with some dazzling action sequences. This is easily his best work since Dragon. With disappointing summer fare like Pearl Harbor and Tomb Raider, its nice to see a flick that aptly lives up to it's title.