Rating of
2.5/4
Speedy Enough Action
Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/27/14
Comparisons between Need for Speed and the Fast and Furious series is inevitable. Need for Speed gives you all the impossibly fast cars you could want, piles on some impressive (if improbable) stunts and doesn't skimp on the race scenes. However, the main problem is that the characters aren't nearly as impressive here - even with people like Aaron Paul and Dominic Cooper involved - and the plot is pretty thin but if it's adrenaline-infused action you're after, the movie will get the blood flowing.
I admit that movies based on video games have been mostly disappointing - and some are downright terrible. Need for Speed falls into the "OK" territory - but I have yet to truly be impressed by any of them. I have never played the Need for Speed series myself - obviously fast cars are involved. In the film Paul is Tobey Marshall, who owns a failing garage and is forced to work with professional driver (and all-around jerk) Dino Brewster to keep his business open. After helping him build an impressive car, he proves its worth by driving it himself, impressing Julia Maddon (Imogen Poots) and her interested party to the tune of $2.7 million. But Dino isn't impressed that he drove the precious car himself and challenges him to a race. Young protege Little Pete (Harrison Gilbertson), a budding racer himself, gets involved. Of course, tragedy strikes and Marshall finds himself put away for two years for a crime he didn't commit while Dino gets off.
Once freed, he meets back up with his old crew including pilot Benny (Scott Mescudi) and his "beast crew" Finn (Rami Malek) and Joe Peck (Ramon Rodriguez) with the intention of racing in the De Leon - a race that The Monarch (Michael Keaton, hamming it up on the radio) puts on - and he chooses who gets to race. Not only that - but he hopes to spurn Dino to show up and clear his name. Lucky for him, Julia shows up with his Shelby he built and it's a cross-country race to get into the most exclusive car battle in California.
The movie essentially goes on to be one long road trip/car chase with plenty of action. From getting Finn on board in Detroit to eluding police in Nebraska to escaping from some rednecks after a bounty is put on his head by Dino - you won't want for action. The biggest stunt has to be the four-lane leap (even if a real such stunt would pretty much total a car) - but don't discount the Apache rescue or the De Leon race itself (featuring an all-star case of the world's fastest cars). As long as you focus on the cars rather than the rest, it's all for the better.
I was disappointed that Paul (who was so impressive in Breaking Bad) wasn't given much range. He was essentially a one-note character - and even an attempt to get him a somewhat love interest was rather weak. And Cooper wasn't any better as the "villain" Dino - rich and slimy - but not all that intimidating. You kind of just wanted to slap him. I can't fault the actors here - I know they have talent - but director Scott Waugh is better known for stunt work rather than direction (he also has Act of Valor). And I applaud the stunts - crazy fun - but stunts can only get you so far.
This is the kind of movie you know exactly what you're in for - amazing cars, spectacular stunts and fun - but if you're looking for something deeper, you won't find it here. Enjoy the movie for what it is - and you'll have a good time - and, really, what else are you looking for?
