by Stacey Longo

Universal Pictures continues to tap into one of its most successful franchises with the release of Fast and Furious 6.

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are back as Dominic Toretto and Brian O’Conner, hiding out in Mexico (“no extradition,” Toretto points out early on.) O’Conner and Toretto’s sister,  Mia (played by Jordana Brewster) have just welcomed their first child into the world when Agent Lou Hobbs, portrayed by a well-muscled Dwayne Johnson, arrives to ask for help. It seems that Interpol is having difficulty stopping a group of mercenary drivers headed by criminal mastermind Owen Shaw (Luke Evans). The hook to ensure Toretto’s assistance is that Shaw’s crew includes Lettie Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), the love of Toretto’s life who was assumed to be killed in Fast and Furious, the fourth installment. Lettie’s alive, and Toretto assembles his team, currently spread across the world, enjoying the riches they earned from their last heist. Tyrese Gibson, Ludicris, Gal Gadot, and Sung Kang return to round out a fantastic supporting cast that gets Furious 6 racing into action.

This movie was fun and exciting. Toretto’s team provides comic relief along with several thrilling car chases and fight scenes.  Toretto’s encounters with Lettie are steeped with emotion and trepidation as Toretto tries hard to help Lettie remember who she once was. Rodriguez excels in brooding tough girl roles, and Lettie is no exception. Toretto’s racing scenes are impressive, but it’s his mid-air rescue of Lettie that will leave you cheering.

Brewster’s Mia has little screen time, and Walker also steps to the sidelines in this installment. One sequence, in which O’Conner returns to the states to interview a criminal, was amusing, but felt like it was only written in to give Walker something to do. However, don’t let this one script flaw keep you from seeing the movie.

Furious 6 was entertaining, well paced, exciting, and a great way to spend an evening.  Plus, with this lineup of action stars, how could you possibly go wrong?