Fast & Furious Six: BBQ, “bruhs” and Many Things Exploding

After watching Fast & Furious 6 I declare 05/24 to be “National Fast and the Furious Day.”

1. Talk about family while eating BBQ at a corporate meeting/lunch date,
2. Entitle your TPS report//PowerPoint presentation “Live life a quarter mile at a time.”
3. Call your friends/family/clients/co-workers “bruh”
4. Order Corona during happy hour and only drink 1/3 of it.
5. If you work at a bar/restaurant/garage play the entire series in order 1,2,4,5,3
6. Appreciate a bonkers series that is still ridiculously fun six films in by drifting for pink slips in a nearby parking garage (The police will understand).

The FF series has survived and thrived due to a confident director, likable cast and total commitment to wonderful insanity. It has established it’s identity and lets it’s car crash flag thrive.  Where else will you see cars drive out of moving airplanes, 10 mile runways, a guy bigger than The Rock, Gina Carano losing to Michelle Rodriguez, a tank being destroyed by a sport car anchor and an F1 type vehicle modified to become a car flipping monster?

The populace loves these films. Has there ever been a series that people still love six films in? When most series are floundering the Fast series is thriving and pulling in tons of money ($120 million opening weekend, $197 million worldwide). What started as a good Point Break ripoff has become a roller coaster of likable films. My favorite is 2 Fast 2 Furious. I love the relationship between Tyrese and Paul Walker. It is a small Miami story that features petty theft, Ludacris and the greatest “bruh” banter ever. Shakespeare it ain’t. However, it is a cheeky little film that features likable characters who still inhabit the FF world.

What the series has excelled at is bringing back characters to the cohesive yet bonkers world. Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese, Vin Diesel, The Rock, Gal Gadot, Sung Kang, Ludacris, Michelle Rodriguez, Else Pataky, Shea Whigham, John Ortiz, Don Omar, Thom Barry, Matt Schulze and Tego Lee all appear in more than one film. When it comes down to it the FF series is about family, BBQ, coronas, ridiculous car chases and more family. The international cast gells well together and they somehow manage to destroy everything yet hurt no civilians.

The plot of Six focuses on Dom and crew hunting down a doppelganger gang lead by the insane Luke Evans. If they bring Evans down The Rock will give the crew full pardons. What follows is Tyrese and Sung Kang eating a lot, Gal Gadot shooting dudes and riding motorcycles and Vin attempting to bring Michelle Rodriguez back to the BBQ side of the force. Also, Paul Walker throws his patented flying punch, The Rock wears Under Armor shirts that are too small are him (not sure they make bigger sizes) and Luke Evans is no Cole Hauser.

Fast & Furious 6 is a pure blast of adrenaline that should be enjoyed with an open mind and knowledge of the series. I’ve loved watching the series evolve while still focusing on family. It is too easy to analyze this film and hopefully critics and the general public realize the incredible treat that Justin Lin, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker have given us! I’m stoked to see what horror maestro James Wan can do with Fast 7. I wouldn’t be surprised if he brings the red monster from Insidious with him!

You have a year to prepare for May 24th! Stock up on Corona, buy too much meat and practice up on your “bruhs.”