2003 - Azione/Avventura - 1h 47m
Regia: John Singleton
Cast: Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Cole Hauser, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, James Remar, Thom Barry, Michael Ealy, Mark Boone Junior, Devon Aoki, Roberto (Sanz) Sanchez, Matt Gallini, Edward Finlay, Jin Auyeung, Amaury Nolasco, Eric Etebari
After the events of the previous chapter, former cop Brian O'conner is a wanted man who has moved to Miami, and lives collecting money by participating in clandestine races. But when the police in exchange for his clean criminal record ask him to catch a famous criminal, the boy accepts the assignment but asks for the side of his old friend Roman Pearce, now under house arrest and no longer on good terms.
Second chapter of the homonymous automotive saga, it is a hymn to the renewal both as a cast and as a story already that what we had only seen in the first chapter, now everything has completely changed both in positive and negative, remaining a story of great impact and cardio palma for the enthusiasm of the most avid fans.
Being myself a big fan of the saga, after seeing the second chapter I was a little disappointed to see a totally new cast with only Paul Walker left to lead the troupe. I have to tell you the truth, the absence in the long run in the film of the tough character of Dominic Toretto felt and how, unfortunately, the figure of an actor like Vin Diesel in the movie should not be missed even if it was partly replaced by the enthusiasm and initiative of Walker, that you felt the true protagonist of the saga, trying to bring the same font as the colleague.
Paul Walker is the only one left of the previous cast
This time the production crew wanted to focus much more on the police style with auto racing always at the center of everything. The searches of the two protagonists in trying to capture the famous criminal of the place, have peppered the saga with new ideas for the next chapters. This element was the positive thing that then excited the subsequent chapters distancing themselves from other similar sagas; not only is the cast completely renewed with various characters who will then be indispensable for later stories, also in the director's driving seat there was a modest change, leaving the command to John Singleton.
Director John Singleton with the three protagonists
For the African-American director it was a great test, directing a blockbuster like this film already was not easy then directing the second chapter after the success of the first was even more so. I have to be honest he tried not to miss anything of the first chapter, and the desire to break through in a positive way on this chapter after the modest previous works created in him that extra strength of mind to give life to the story. He did not stop in front of the only element of clandestine races and wanted to devote himself to something more like much more action and I can also say espionage even if to a lesser extent. A director like him is missing from the film scene (the director was missing due to a serious stroke in 2019); his strength in managing even high-budget productions, and pulling the grit out of the cast was something really exciting.
Brian e Roman (Tyrese Gibson)
Although the cast was completely renovated with few survivors, this step did not slow down. Paul Walker has further demonstrated to be able to impress the most dedicated fans with her beauty from a sweet boy of character, and the desire to conquer the world, and to be finally a sort of nemesis, so much so that in some places the presence of the dear good Vin Diesel at his side, never felt, and probably for the insertion of Tyrese Gibson. The former rapper known only as Tyrese (are sincere before then I had never heard), is a blow to the heart in comparison to Toretto, but his grit and character warmer made him a great shoulder to Walker, why we, as in all the couples who respects there is always calmer and more furious. Then of course the character of Roman Pierce is also a kind of village fool, this because he wants to be tough but he also manages to pull out the part of the fool in the sense that sometimes he does funny things and without thinking, making him laugh in his own way.
What about the Cuban blood flowing in the veins of the beautiful Eva Mendes who plays Monica Fuentes. The future wife of Ryan Gosling, brought the woman with the attributes but also fragile. Undercover cop you too, will pretend to have a year relationship with the enemy and you can see his skill in camouflage. I don't want to make comparisons with Michelle Rodriguez, of which I found both of a similar character, and I think that the production chose Mendes just to replace the links, even if the character Letty is a completely other thing, and you see, Mendes has another class that is not comparable to that of the colleague. I do not say that Mendes did not play her character well, but it was probably not enough to put it back in later chapters apart from a small cameo.
I preferred not to see an antagonist like Carter Verone, he has nothing of the drug dealer and seems rather the classic man who has become rich on the damage of others, devoted to beautiful cars and houses, but who can not get by on his own. The actor Cole Hauser has neither the face to play a boss or criminal for you want, nor the characteristics such; but I must give him note that he managed to transport the crazy and crazy character but he does not want to show others. Perhaps the production had something else in mind for this villain but in part failed to prove it. And what about Ludacris, a character who knows what he wants, he managed to create the classic shoulder that takes you out of difficult situations but that shows little, and if he wanted to give a twist to the story he succeeded with his difficulties; a character whose difference you feel when you see him.
I can't do the differences between Los Angeles and Miami because they are two different planets according to me, but certamete a location like Miami from her with its beaches and its beauty for a film of this genre is the right way, adding to the scenes of action can really keep you stuck to the screen until the end between chases and races against time. A soundtrack sincerely below the previous chapter for his symphonies, even if the theme is always the same, and David Arnold, who has replaced the previous composer wished to use much less electronic music of his colleague and join a new sound, which become a single rap in which he also participated Ludacris. In a nutshell, a film renewed and halfway from its true goal but that makes fun and exciting as only knows how to do.
by Giacomo Fantini rating: 3, 35 of 5
7 August 2021
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