(rated PG-13, 104 mins.)
Vin Diesel (Pitch Black) and Paul Walker (The Skulls) star in a fierce look at rival Los Angeles street teams who use street racing as a means of establishing power. Co-starring Michelle Rodriguez (Girlfight) and Rick Yune (Snow Falling On Cedars), Walker as a rookie cop goes undercover posing as a racing team member in order to investigate a series of truck hijackings. Unlike previous race flicks (Gone In Sixty Seconds, that did just that), and proving that speed kills, this one has facts on its side, based on a Vibe Magazine article about L.A. gangs who illegally race revamped Japanese sports cars. Rodriguez again proves strong acting skills as the lone female speed racer, with the same punch as her boxing role in Girlfight. Th rest of the characters are missing something. Maybe development? However, if you’re a grease monkey, you’ll be in hot rod heaven.