2 Fast 2 Furious

One of the first sequels out of the pits in 2003's ridiculous summer of sequels, not much was expected of this sequel 2 the 2001 sleeper hit which, deprived of its Diesel power, looked set 2 crash and burn. Miraculously, however, 2 Fast 2 Furious has exactly the right amount of overblown racing action, scantily clad ladies and hip-hop street cred 2 make it a ride well worth taking. Although hardly a thinking man's action film, it has enough bravado and kinetic action 2 warrant a viewing, especially if you appreciate the dizzying spectacles of such classics as Top Gun or Point Break.

Paul Walker is back as disgraced ex-LAPD officer Brian O'Connor, who is brought back from banishment 2 work undercover in attempting 2 bring the obligatory smarmy, bigwig crime boss 2 order. As his driving partner, he chooses his childhood buddy Roman Pearce, who is still holding a grudge over a bust that cost him three years in jail. Soon they are bantering, fighting, race driving and generally causing havoc all over Miami as the Bad Guy (Cole Hauser - they lost one Pitch Black alumnus, so they brought in another) sets them tasks which may be the death of them.

2 Fast 2 Furious is not going 2 win any awards for director John Singleton (Boyz In The Hood) but he will be pleased to know that his film comfortably outperformed both the original film and XXX at the box-office, proving that the lure of fast cars and frenetic action sequences is 2 much for people 2 avoid. And there are certainly plenty of both in this amusing caper movie - the opening drag race through the streets of Miami has more camera-shaking, colourful, illegal thrills than a dozen Tomb Raiders.

Sceptical though you may be, it's worth giving 2 Fast 2 Furious a test drive, although the cliché of turning your brain off and enjoying the experience was perhaps never more pertinent.  But if you fancy a film that's exciting, funny and more than a little over-the-top, then you could do a lot worse than coming 2 see this.