Fast Five and Red Stripe Bold make big statement... some comedy, lots of action with snippets of romance

Sadeke Brooks, Gleaner Writer

Despite coming two weeks after the movie premiered, there was a packed house for the special showing of Fast Five at Palace Cineplex, Sovereign Centre, St Andrew, last Friday.

The various models of cars - Mitsubishi, Toyota, Honda and Subaru - that greeted the patrons on the ground floor of Sovereign were eye-catching to say the least.

There were also numerous bikes that rode into the building in thunderous fashion. The guests lined up to take pictures on bikes, mingled and drank Red Stripe Bold, before filing into the movie, where they were also treated to snacks.

It was at that point that the excitement began as the audience was being thrilled from the beginning - the movie's opening scene producing mind-boggling stunts.

storyline

The movie begins with a couple (O'Conner, played by Paul Walker, and Mia, played by Jordana Brewster) colliding into a bus to save Dominic (Mia's brother, played by Vin Diesel), who was being brought to prison. After the crash, the two travelled to The Favellas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where they are welcomed by men armed with big rifles before they are rescued by Vince (played by Matt Schulze), who is also the sibling of Mia and Dominic.

Dominic arrives right in time for a new job to steal cars and make quick money, but this was not without problems, as there was a series of fights, a fire, accidents and a near-drowning incident, before Dominic and O'Conner are captured by one of Brazil's top crime bosses, Reyes (played by Joaquim de Almeida).

After escaping, they go back to their base to find out that the car they stole contained a valuable chip that Reyes wanted. Just when better days seem near, a United States federal agent (Hobbs, played by Duane 'The Rock' Johnson) began hunting them. This, along with Reyes' men still searching for them, complicates matters.

The complications only increase after. Then, they decide to take all of Reyes' money, using the chip they took from the car and a new team they assemble.

This is the point at which all hell breaks loose, as the team was serious about getting rid of Reyes and taking all of his money. Through-out the movie there was very little racing, as was the case in the previous four instalments, except when the team steals some police cars and competes in the street. There was some comedy, lots of action with snippets of romance during the journey to get the money.

During the movie's intermission, patrons won prizes like car detailing, gas, car rims and supplies of Red Stripe Bold.