Fast Five

 Review

Common Sense Media says

High-octane heist sequel is violent but exciting.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is the fifth in a series of action movies that began with 2001's The Fast and the Furious. This one is more of a heist movie than a slam-bang racing movie, but it's still heavy on violence. Property is destroyed more frequently than people, though many minor characters are shot and killed (one bloodily), and there are some brutal fistfights. Language includes one "f--k" and several uses of "s--t." There's social drinking, kissing between a couple, and many scantily clad women on display and treated as sex objects.

  • The main characters engage in illegal activities so they can earn enough money to disappear and live comfortably for the rest of their lives. They plan to steal from a Brazilian gangster, but that doesn't necessarily make their crime more acceptable. Although they work together and solve problems, they also create rampant destruction and violence with no consequences.
  • The characters may seem "cool," but they're lawbreakers and troublemakers. They don't act responsibly, and they leave a trail of violence without any consequences. On the plus side, they do value family, and they work together well.
  • Lots of big, powerful guns are pulled, and many minor characters are shot and killed. Not too much blood is seen, though a supporting character dies of a bloody gunshot wound. Some brutal fistfights. Mostly, the movie focuses on rampant destruction, smashing up cars, buses, trains, bridges, buildings, and just about anything else that gets in the way.
  • The main couple kisses often. Also lots of sexual innuendo and many shots of women wearing tight clothing (or very little clothing). Women are treated as sex objects in this movie.
  • One "f--k" and several uses of "s--t." Other words include "goddamn," "ass," "prick," "a--hole," "hell," "damn," "goddamn," and "son of a bitch."
  • Plenty of fancy, fetishized cars are on display.
  • The main characters drink beer on more than one occasion, but never to drunkenness.

What's the story?

After the events of Fast & Furious, Dominic (Vin Diesel) is arrested and sent to prison. So his sister, Mia (Jordana Brewster), and her ex-cop boyfriend, Brian (Paul Walker), break him out and hightail it to Rio to hide out. There, they get involved in a car robbery that goes badly; to avenge themselves and earn enough money to clear their tarnished reputations, they assemble a team and plan to steal a fortune from a local gangster (Joaquim de Almeida). Unfortunately, this involves breaking into police headquarters. Worse, a gung-ho cop (Dwayne Johnson) is after them and won't stop until they're caught.


Is it any good?

 

After practically sinking the series with the terrible The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), director Justin Lin refreshed things by changing the series from testosterone-fueled car racing action to Ocean's Eleven- and Italian Job-style heists. The movies still objectify women and feature lots of car chases, but at least they also have some clever stunts and amazing set pieces.

In particular, there's a great bungled robbery in which the thieves try to steal three cars from a moving train; and then, at the climax, we get a has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed robbery involving two supercharged cars. These moments are beautifully handled, more so than the more typical shaky fight scenes. Despite the movie's overlong feel (it clocks in at 130 minutes) and its general lack of originality or responsibility, it has enough slam-bang, popcorn-munching action to keep most fans happy.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. How did it affect you? Does it seem at all realistic? How does that change its impact?

  • How does the movie treat women? Do you think they're included because of who they are or how they look? What effect does this have on a female audience's body image? What effect does it have on a male audience?

  • What makes these characters sympathetic -- even heroic -- even though they steal and destroy things? Can you think of other movies where "bad guys" are the heroes?


This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Parent of 2 year old
April 30, 2011
 
Not too shabby, just not a favorite
The movie as a whole was fairly decent, at times though a bit 'extra'-ordinary (as in a bit unbelievable). I came into the movie with low expectations but left somewhat excited due to the fast paced feature. I wasn’t much of a fan scantily clothed ladies and boy do many of those ladies need to put some weight on especially Gal and Jordana (I did need to look up their names, as I didn’t know them before this film). Elsa looked a lot more healthily proportioned...as most know Eva Mendes already is.

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Teen, 16 years old
May 2, 2011
 
Great movie, read the content and decide if your kids are mature enough.
I love this movie. Now you might watch the trailer and say, "This is not going to have any story at all it's just gonna be corny action." Well, I turned my Dad into a believer when I took him to see this movie. If your wondering if this movie is appropriate for your kids it depends. It isn't as intense as the last F&F but it isn't a totally clean movie either. There is some sexual quotes in this movie, and two scenes. One of women counting money in their under were and one with some women wearing skimpy clothing and acting very sexual. While the movie may seem to pose women as sex objects in some parts it has several strong female characters. I highlighted role models, because despite being a criminal Dom realizes the importance of family decisions. And he makes several selfless choices in this movie to help his friends and family.

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Parent of 13 year old
May 4, 2011
 
B-A-D BAD!!!!!!!!!!
wow bad movie for under 15

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Adult
April 29, 2011
 
Its ok for older kids, but not for tweens
It was ok, the plot and whole story line is very preditable and a little cheesey. Almost a spoof of the oceans series. there wasnt a whole lot of language, but a fair bit of violence, the violence wasnt goryon the other hand, and alot of skimpy dressed women, very little clothing as they could get away with.

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Kid, 8 years old
April 30, 2011
 
Two words. Just horrid.
This movie is so last round. I HATE IT! I never want to see this movie! Its just like 2012!

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Adult
April 29, 2011
 
fast and the furious five is one of the best action/adventure movies i ever seen and with that being said your older teens will definitely want to see this movie but parents you need to know that Fast and the furious five has a lot of intense violence a lot of sexual innuendo many in which shots of women wearing tight clothing also some strong language used and some mild drinking in which characters drink beer on more than one occasion.

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Adult
May 3, 2011
 
good for everyone
perfect

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Kid, 13 years old
May 2, 2011
 
kids 10 and up should be able to see it
i think it is aproprite for kids.Kids [tweens] from 10 and up should be able to see it.

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Parent of 11 year old
April 28, 2011
 
perfect for young teens
its good but it has to many swears but also its a great film

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Adult
May 30, 2011
 
excellent, excellent and the best of the series.
Former cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) partners with ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the opposite side of the law. Dwayne Johnson joins returning favorites Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Matt Schulze, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Tego Calderon and Don Omar for this ultimate high-stakes race. Since Brian and Mia Toretto (Brewster) broke Dom out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) never misses his target. wow wow wow, lol. from where should i start praising this movie. i am not a big fan of Fast and furious series. i think they are silly and not of my interest. there past movies were not that good and you can see their reviews. but this time they are back with a bang, i mean unbelievable it is to have made such a good movie that you really can't get enough of it. i must say as the series aged now it has gotten matured, child has grown, lolx. i mean not silly anymore. action seems superbly realistic now. and their is far more in it than car chases and car races. back in it was released the reviews shocked me, seeing it getting 80+ and now 79% Rotten Tomato rating was a big shocker to me, audience also responded big to it. i got superbly excited and wanted to see this movie very badly. i must it is the best of the series, i think seeing this now, i actually want another and then another Fast movie, Fast six and seven etc. it is one of the best summer popcorn flick ever and it might be one of my few actual favorite summer flick of this year. awsome. plot is mindblowingly thrilling and action packed and it makes you glued and than to the edge of your seat.its an excellent ride. full on adrenaline rush. plot is very interesting and enjoyable. i actually enjoyed watching this movie. superb. stuff. movie stars ofcourse Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and a new big addition Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson , Chris "Ludacris" Bridges , Matt Schulze , Sung Kane , Sung Kang , Joaquim de Almeida and some other bunch of actors on a great thrilling mission. the actors looked good in it. Vin's character is so good in it, i like his character. movie is a full on surprise featuring best direction by Justin Lin. an explosive fun it was. screenplay was good. cinematography was good. characters were really good. i loved the movie so much the entire one and he ending was big big big huge shock to me, don't wanna spoil it for you. its now a heist film as i said, it got pretty cool soundtrack too. amazing action and stunts in it. loved it. A must watch for all of you guys, this movie will make more fan of this series or should i say this movie.

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This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Studio:Universal Pictures
Director:Justin Lin
Cast:Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Paul Walker, Vin Diesel
Genre:Action/Adventure
Run time:130 minutes
Theatrical release date:April 29, 2011
DVD release date:October 4, 2011
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:intense sequences of violence and action, sexual content and language

This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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