2 Fast 2 Furious *** (2003, Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Cole Hauser, Eva Mendes, Ludacris, James Remar) – Classic Movie Review 467

John Singleton directs 2 Fast 2 Furious, the more than welcome 2003 follow-up to the 2001 surprise hit, The Fast and the Furious. All the spotlight is on Paul Walker this time as he roars back as ex-cop road racer dude Brian O’Conner for a revved-up sequel to 2001’s dazzler.

This time, O’Conner and his ex-convict buddy Roman Pearce (played by Tyrese Gibson) are promised a pardon by FBI operative Agent Markham (James Remar) if they bring in smirking, shady Miami-based drugs kingpin Carter Verone (played by Cole Hauser).

The duo joins Verone’s gang, but O’Conner falls for Verone’s girl, sexy gangster’s moll Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes), who turns out to be an undercover agent. They agree to transport a shipment of dirty money for Verone, while actually working to try to bring him down with Fuentes’s help.

With this ancient plot, some clunky acting and some daft dialogue — and alas no Vin Diesel this time — this film has to motor on its stars, its cars and its high-octane action. And, with cars racing madly all over Miami, top-gear excitement is guaranteed in a movie that keeps driving along with few pit stops.

The far-too-handsome star trio of Walker, Tyrese and Mendes produce plenty of sparks and Hauser is a fun villain, making up for any of that clunky acting elsewhere.

As a fast-as-hell thrill ride, it takes the popcorn.

Among the many songs on a busy soundtrack: Act a Fool (written and performed by Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, who plays Tej), Pump It Up, Pick Up the Phone, Like a Pimp.

Also in the cast are Thom Barry, Devon Aoki, Amaury Nolasco, Michael Ealy, Jin Auyeung and Edward Finlay.

2 Fast 2 Furious is directed by John Singleton, runs 107 minutes, is made by Original, Mikona and Neal H Moritz, is released by Universal and UIP, is written by Michael Brandt, Derek Haas and Gary Scott Thompson, based on a story by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas and characters by Gary Scott Thompson, is shot by Matthew F Leonetto, is produced by Neal H Moritz, is scored by David Arnold, and is designed by Keith Brian Burns.

Paul Walker ducked the second sequel, but was back with Diesel too in Fast & Furious (2009), Fast & Furious 5 (2011), Fast & Furious 6 (2013) and Fast & Furious 7 (2015).

RIP Paul Walker (1973–2013).

RIP John Singleton, who died on 29 April 2019, aged 51. He was the youngest director and the first African-American in cinema history to be nominated for a Best Director Oscar, for Boyz n the Hood (1991), for which he was also Oscar nominated for Best Writing.

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