Fast & Furious 6
The sixth installment in the “Fast & Furious” franchise continues the thread established in “Fast Five” with an emphasis on heists, capers and international crime — but without sacrificing any of the fast action, street-racing and car stunts that has made the series so popular. Since Dom (Vin Diesel) and Brian’s (Paul Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, the “Fast” gang has scattered across the globe, unable to go home. Enter federal agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), who has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries whose goal is to steal components to create a device that can disable power in an entire region. Hobbs persuades Dom to assemble his elite team in London to capture the bad guys, offering full pardons for all of them so they can return home. And there’s an added incentive: One of the members of the mercenaries is none other than Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Dom’s love whom everyone assumed was dead. Throw in some double-crosses, kidnappings, cons, trickery, and spectacular chases (including a freeway chase with a tank), and you have one heck of a ride. Our only caveat: There’s just too much suspension of disbelief this time around, particularly in the closing sequence aboard a disabled jumbo cargo jet that taxis down what has to be the longest runway in the world. But hey, you have to forgo reality when immersed in this franchise. It’s all about the stunts and the cars and the speed — forget verisimilitude for the thrills. And the death of Paul Walker over the Thanksgiving weekend puts a damper on the proceedings.
Extras: Deleted scenes; “The Making of Fast & Furious 6” four-part featurette (“The Fastest of Them All” chronicles the saga of the “Fast” films from Chapters 3 through 6; “Reuniting the Team” explores the characters (and actors) that make up the “Fast” family, with a focus on founding partners Dom and Brian (and Vin and Paul); “Letty’s Return”: Heralded by a crowd-pleasing cliffhanger in “Fast Five,” Michelle Rodriguez makes a dramatic return in the sixth installment; “The Mastermind and The Mole”: introduces “Fast” “newbies” Luke Evans and Gina Carano as they share their experience joining the cast of “Fast & Furious 6” and how their characters fit into the new plot); “On the Set With Vin”; commentary with Justin Lin. Blu-ray adds an extended version of the film; “Take Control” in which Diesel, Walker, Rodriguez and Lin appear at key moments throughout the film, offering observations and reflections on the movie, behind-the-scenes footage and more; “Planes, Tanks and Automobiles” four-part featurette (“The London Chase” gives viewers a front-row seat for the filming of the sprawling car chase through the streets of one of the world’s most historic and congested cities; “Highway Heist: The Convoy Attack” is a first-hand account of the meticulously planned and executed action sequence; “The Antonov Takedown” explores what went into creating “Fast & Furious 6’s” spectacular finale sequence, featuring the world’s largest plane, including first- and second-unit filming, special effects, visual effects, car rigging, stunt drivers, green-screen shooting and more: “Dom and Letty Race Again”); “Gearhead’s Delight”: From the shop to the test track, to the set and back again, a look at the latest hot cars showcased in “Fast & Furious 6”, featuring Dom’s latest Charger, Brian’s Nissan Skyline GTR, the BMW M5s, the Alfa Romeo and the classic cars from the film’s car-auction scene; “The FLIP Car” provides an inside look at the “Fast” franchise’s newest mind-blowing vehicle, the pivoting FLIP car; “Hand-to-Hand Fury” offers viewers a detailed look at the rehearsals, choreography, stunt work and filming of some of “Fast & Furious 6’s” most bone-jarring fight sequences. Vitals: Director: Justin Lin. Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Sung Kang, John Ortiz, Gal Gadot, Elsa Pataky, Luke Evans, Gina Carano, Shea Whigham, David Ajala, Kim Kold, Thure Lindhardt, Joe Taslim. 2013, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 131 min., Action, Box office gross: $238.673, million, Universal. 
