Tyred out
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Out of gas: A still from the film |
The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift
*1/2
Dir: Justin Lin
Cast: Lucas Black, Nathalie Kelley
Tushar Joshi
tushar.joshi@mid-day.com
Plot: The problem with sequels is that you either love them or despise their very mention. When the film is a third in the series to The Fast and the Furious craze, you want to exercise restraint on your excitement. This time, drifting eastward, the filmmakers set their enterprise in the land of the rising sun. When Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) an American high school student indulges in a fast-paced car brawl with a rival, his mother has no other option but to pack his bags and send him off to Japan. There he meets the Yakuza (Japanese mafia) and gets introduced to the concept of drifting — thanks to Han (Sung Kang), a member of the goons. Throwing in the stereotypical girl friend, Neela (Nathalie Kelley) and the rival, DK (Brian Tee), the film veers to a predictable end.
Acting: Even though the film is about high-speed cars, that doesn't mean the actors can rest. Lucas Black is a complete misfit in the film. He can't act, and tries to emote using his bushy eyebrows and sneering smile. Of the cast, the only actor who impresses is Sung Kang, DK's sidekick and philo-sopher. His sequences with Sean where he teaches him to drift, are interesting. Kelley looks stunning but has hardly anything to do.
What's hot: The only thing that stands out in the film is the mind-blowing soundtrack. In-corporating Japanese '80s rock-and-roll and today's hot rappers like Julez Santana and N.E.R.D., the music lets you have a good time. Rapper Bow Wow plays a fun role. The scenes where Sean watches DK drift in a high-rise building parking lot give you an adrenaline rush. Japan makes for an interesting setting, giving you a glimpse of the Harijuku girls and their pop culture.
What's not: The film fails on the basic premise of being a good action film. One expects a script that's racy, fun and keeps you on the edge of your seat. One-dimensional characters and a forced plot make the film drag, even before it makes you want to know about drifting. The car chases and action scenes are average.
Bottom line: With two car movies playing at the theatres, I suggest watching the one where the cars do the talking.
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