Grade: B-

Verdict: Lives up to its title.

Details: Starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Directed by Rob Cohen. Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and profanity. One hour, 47 min.

Rate it: Write your own review

Review: The racing scenes are earsplitting in “The Fast and the Furious.” But at a sneak preview of the flick, even the high-decibel vrooms were drowned out by the covetous moans of the audience: guys from the movie's target demographic, 15-to-35-year-olds in peak dudedom, melting with passion whenever the camera panned across the high-end car parts. Spoilers. Intercoolers. Megaflows. Gasps of pleasure erupted every time a hood popped open to reveal a gleamingly customized engine.

Call it garage porn.

The new flick from director Rob Cohen (“Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story,” “The Skulls”) understands its audience. Even if your life doesn't revolve around your carburetor, the movie is a kicky guilty pleasure with the high-speed thrills of “Driven,” but also plenty of what that movie didn't have. Like characters, motivation and coherent (if simplistic) storytelling.

The hulking, coolly charismatic Vin Diesel plays Dominic Toretto, garage mechanic by day, by night the king of L.A.'s streets. He's the reigning champ of the illegal racing circuit, where the boys (and sometimes girls) show off the latest additions to their cars — and tear up the pavement with a little help from nitrous oxide injections to the engine. (During these scenes, the camera isn't sure which to focus on more: the pumped-up curves of their hotrods, or the lines of the pneumatic hotties lining the street, promising sex to the speediest driver.)

Into this multiracial mix comes Brian (Paul Walker), whose Aryan looks makes one guy dub him Snowman. “Oh, he's beautiful,” a member of Dom's gang says mockingly.

But you already know where this is going, don't you? Against expectation, Brian proves his mettle, earns Dom's respect, and becomes the new guy in his hip crowd of auto-fetishists. He also catches the eye of Dom's sis Mia (Jordana Brewster), no slouch behind the wheel herself.

Meanwhile, police are hunting for a band of thieves-on-wheels. The crew specializes in robbing trucks full of expensive electronics — while the trucks are driving full-speed down the highway. (This dangerous m.o. is mainly a way for the flick to show off cool stunts — like somebody driving under a speeding rig.) Tracking the ringleader, police have narrowed their suspects to two people: Dom, naturally, and rival street racer Johnny Tran (Rick Yune), who speeds around town on a motorcycle.

The plot is mainly an excuse to stage a series of cool action sequences. The first street race, seen from inside the roaring cars, becomes a disorienting blur of lines; it's like an earthbound version of the psychedilic “stargate” sequence in “2001.” And the movie's final half hour is full of some doozy chases that make up for the occasionally lame dialogue.

The cast includes Michelle Rodriguez of “Girlfight” as Dom's girlfriend, but like Brewster she's mainly set dressing. The real relationship here is between Dom and Brian, a revved-up ode to male bonding, loyalty and betrayal. If Walker is sometimes a little too Ken Doll, Diesel picks up the slack. He's got the slow-burn intensity and swagger of a big action star in the making. He also has the acting chops to pull off quiet moments, including a monologue that gives his character, and the movie, more depth than you might expect.

Well, at least until the next revving engine rips us along for another wild ride.

— Steve Murray, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution