accessAtlanta

Cars are the stars of 'Tokyo Drift'

The writers and director are new, and none of the stars of the first two films have returned: This isn't a sequel; it's simply in the same genre as its namesake. No matter. At least by this point the "Fast and Furious" brand is an open admission that plot, dialogue and acting will place far behind burned rubber and polished chrome, priority-wise.

Universal Pictures 'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift' 2 out of 5 stars The verdict: Geared toward fans only Director: Justin Lin Starring: Lucas Black, Shad 'Bow Wow' Gregory Moss, Nathalie Kelley, Sung Kang, Brian Tee Run time: 104 minutes Release date: June 16, 2006 Rating: PG-13 for reckless and illegal behavior involving teens, violence, language and sexual content. See showtimes Silly sequels The Flick Chick's quick list of five silly sequels. On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

This third installment performs to expectations, stuffed with clichés and fronted by faces like Nathalie Kelley, who plays the love interest as if auditioning for a Revlon ad. The script actually contains the infamous howler, "we're not so different, you and I."

But you paid to see cars, and the movie has a bit to offer in that department — mainly the racing style called "drift," in which drivers skid through impossible curves. It's a technique suited to races in parking garages, where spectators take elevators to watch racers move from level to level. Syrup-voiced Southern boy Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) enters this world after being shipped off by a mother who can't keep him out of trouble stateside; within 24 hours, of course, he has ruined one hot car and is in hock to the mob.

Director Justin Lin (of the Sundance title "Better Luck Tomorrow") isn't a genius with action photography — the racing in Pixar's "Cars" is more exciting, albeit less novel — but fans of this franchise should get their money's worth.