‘Fast & Furious 6’ was franchise’s peak

Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

Directed by Justin Lin

7.5/10  PG-13

Suspension of disbelief is essential for the enjoyment of “Fast and Furious 6.” This franchise thrives on the extreme, and its sixth installment may be the most unbelievable yet. Even so, money does buy happiness…especially when it’s to the tune of $160 million and it’s used to buy tanks and destroy half of London.

Criminal mastermind Owen Shaw (Luke Evans) has his hands on a small computer chip with destructive capabilities, and he threatens to sell it to the highest bidder if he can get out of London. But his elite team is impossible to take down, so Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and his new partner Riley (Gina Carano) call in Dom (Vin Diesel) and the crew (Paul Walker, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Gal Gadot, and Sung Kang) to help them out. But when Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) returns to the picture, obviously changed years after her presumed death, the job becomes more difficult than ever. In every franchise, we eventually fear for the well-being of our protagonists. “Fast and Furious 6” is that movie.

The cast of this franchise is like none other. After serving together off and on for twelve years and four movies up to that point, this ensemble had an unmatched comradery. Their chemistry is undeniable. Even working with a cookie-cutter action movie script, this team takes the franchise to new heights. It’s one of the reasons people love “Fast and Furious.” Newcomers Luke Evans and Gina Carano are wonderful additions. Carano is a lousy actor, but when she puts fist to face she’s a pro. And Evans is the franchise’s first archetypal villain. He pulls it off. The rest continue to progress, as each successive movie allows them to grow into their character and bond with their costars.

Most would say that “Fast Five” was the franchise’s peak. I disagree. I think “Fast and Furious 6” edges past it. The cars, the guns, and the babes make this a meathead fantasy. The cast is having fun, and it’s contagious. Ignore the illogicality of the stunts and enjoy it for what it is.