A surprise summer hit in the US, this lower budget caper made back its production cost in its first weekend on release.
Critics wailed that this was the antidote event movie to all the lousy films being thrown at audiences by Hollywood studios of late.
Paul Walker plays undercover cop Brian, posing as a good-looking young boy racer, who gets in with Dom (Vin Diesel) and his street-racing gang.
Dom's gang are up to no good, targeting lorries on the LA docks and stealing their loads in fast-paced raids.
The FBI have fixed Brian up with a fake past which gradually begins to unravel as he starts to go native with the very people he is expected to expose.
His loyalties are further tested when he develops a crush on the gang leader's sister Mia (Jordana Brewster).
Vin Diesel has great presence and can make the most of even the weakest lines.
Direction is strong and Rob Cohen has an unpretentious and visual style that delivers energy on screen without falling back on expensive digital effects.
The lads will love this one. Even those of you who sometimes like to leave your brain at the door and be entertained may be surprised at how much fun you have.
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