Review: Fast & Furious 6 is director Justin Lin's biggest canvas in the series

Film: Fast & Furious 6
Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez
Director: Justin Lin
Rating: ***

There is a proportionality between the size of Vin Diesel's biceps and the number of car chases in Fast & Furious 6. As the films gets older, the characters get bulkier and the story line thinner. With the sixth instalment, Justin Lin goes all out creating the biggest canvas in the series.

The opening credits give us a flashback of how it all began. Fans of the series will enjoy those montages as they revisit their favourite scenes. FF6 begins in the scenic Canary Islands where Dominic Toretto and Brian (Paul Walker) flaunt their machines and engage in a car race. Everything changes with the birth of Brian's son and Dom tells him that life isn't going to be the same every again. But, little does he know that his own past is coming back to haunt him.

The news of his girlfriend Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) being alive and working for an international criminal Shaw (Luke Evans) shakes his core and makes him take on an assignment with old pal Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) to rescue her and prevent any more Interpol buildings from being blown up. The story might be simple, but the climax has a major twist that works in making this just another episode in the series.

While the players are all in form, what seems to be missing is the chemistry. Especially the bromance between Dom and Brian looks forced and the banter lacks its initial spark. Earlier the focus was on cars and their different makes, this time around we also see an army tank and a cargo plane being brought in to deliver some big bang.

Fans of the series who loved the repertoire between the characters about engine specs and rev speed, might be disappointed as majority of the story focuses on family ties and Dom's revived loved life. With lines like, "You don't turn your back on family even if they do", there is little scope for any gangster talk.

Comic relief comes in spurts through the quick-witted Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) and his side kick Tej (Chris Bridges). There is a big girl-on-girl moment and we are referring  to an action scene between Rodriguez and Hobb's partner Gina Carrano. While the men flex their muscles, it is the ladies who impress with their stunts.

The second half puts the adrenaline rush in third gear and takes the story line beyond the rubber burns and skid marks. Lin focuses on the emotional bonds between the characters making them more than just steroid studs.

But there are moments when you feel that how many more explosions and chases do you have to sit through? Also, you sense a bit of haste and hurry as Lin tries to wrap up the climax which has a giant airplane in the centre piece.

Wait till after the credits for a major surprise that gives a sneak peek into the next episode which releases mid 2014. Clearly there seems no stopping the speed and fury of this franchise!

Check out the trailer of the film: