Day 176: "Can I get everyone's attention right here for a second? We're talking about breaking into a PO-LICE station here."

Filmmakers really need to know when to end a franchise.  Fast Five is cinematic proof.  A good, not great movie, it really should have been called The Brazilian Job, for a couple of reasons: 1) it's a pretty blatant rip off of The Italian Job, 2) hair is pretty scarce in most places.  This was a good crime/action caper with a ton of action, car chases and shootouts, but the story itself was, to be nice, HIGHLY improbable.  The characters we all know and love are back (I mean everyone from the past films) stealing cars, driving them in the most dangerous ways possible (some, not so possible), and coming out unscathed.  They escape to, apparently, extradition free Rio De Janiero, Brazil, get involved with the local crime lord, get double crossed, finally get tracked down by the U.S. authorities, and gain resolution in the most ridiculous ways possible.  It sound, and to a point, is, stupid, but it was fun.

Trained, hairless ape-man Vin Diesel returns as emotion-free Dominic Toretto, again playing the role in the most minimalist fashion he can (or is able).  Paul "Keanu Reeves, Jr." is Brian O'Connor, now on "...the other side of the wanted poster..."and as grungy and talent free as I remember.  Jordanna Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Matt Schulze all reprise their roles from the earlier films as well.  The main addition is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Diesel's mirror image, FBI hunter.  I assume he is in the movie to show the audience what would have happened to Toretto if he had grown up to be a cop, but who knows.

A fun, but deeply flawed (especially if the laws of physics are near and dear to you) movie that is just dripping with excess testosterone and is quite possibly the furthest thing from a date movie that you can watch.  See it for kicks, not for an artistic experience.  6.75/10.

See you tomorrow, and GO WATCH A MOVIE!!