Summary
Fast & Furious'37% Rotten Tomatoes movie hasn’t received much love over the years, but I’ll always defend the underrated project. Having debuted over two decades ago,Fast & Furioushas grown into one of the biggest action franchises of all time, with an incredible box office haul and a number of hit movies. AlthoughFast Xwas a box office flop, the saga had a financial hot streak heading into the tenth installment, proving how much it had grown, and despite not always being celebrated by the critics,Fast & Furioushas still cemented itself as a cinematic spectacle.
Audiences are often split on which movie is the best, as eachFast & Furiousfilm has its own crazy car stuntsand memorable fight scenes to admire. However, one film is usually towards the bottom of most people’s list, but I think it deserves more credit. Scoring just 37% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes (and 50% among audiences), one of the franchise’s earliest entries is often panned for its simplistic plot alongside its disconnection from its predecessor, and while these criticisms are definitely valid, the black sheep of theFast & Furiousfranchise is still a fun ride.
The Fast and the Furious
2001
2003
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
2006
2009
2011
2013
2015
2018
2019
2021
2023
2 Fast 2 Furious Isn’t Great (But It’s Actually Enjoyable)
The Second Fast & Furious Installment May Be Flawed, But There’s Still A Lot To Like
I’ll be the first to admit that2 Fast 2 Furiousisn’t a cinematic masterpiece, but even if it’s not great, the movie is still enjoyable.Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson made for a fun leading duo and had great chemistry, meaning the cheesy dialog and bad jokes still worked asRoman and Brian had an authentic friendship in2 Fast 2 Furious. Although it leaned into the action elements that ultimately took over the franchise, the plot still stemmed around street racing, which makes it one of the fewFast & Furiousfilms to actually embrace the original premise.
Fast & Furious: What Happened To Suki After 2 Fast 2 Furious
Devon Aoki only played Suki in 2 Fast 2 Furious before disappearing from the franchise. Why didn’t the actress ever reprise the role since 2003?
Although the movie still has serious aspects, it doesn’t lack humorous moments and I still find myself cracking up at the film - even when it may not be the intention. It also introduced some ofFast & Furious' best characters, as Roman and Tej made their debut in the sequel, proving there was some value that came out of it in the long run. Despite future entries having better stories and more gripping action, there is still a lot to admire about2 Fast 2 Furious,and its flaws don’t prevent it from being an enjoyable watch.
The Movie’s Simplistic Charm Was Lost As Fast & Furious Turned Into A Mainstream Blockbuster Franchise
One of2 Fast 2 Furious' biggest selling points is its charm, something the rest of the franchise could never quite replicate. Brian and Roman’s double-act remains one of the best in the entire series, and the straightforward storyline has a lot more charm than the later installments. Whereas future entries involve going into space, driving between skyscrapers, and redirecting missiles,2 Fast 2 Furiouskeeps things simple, which is part of its identity. It may not containFast & Furious' most ridiculous stunts, but the characters still feel realistic and somewhat relatable, despite their quirky nature.
The newer films undoubtedly have much better action and eye-catching moments, but the characters themselves don’t feel as grounded as they do in2 Fast 2 Furious.
The newer films undoubtedly have much better action and eye-catching moments, but the characters themselves don’t feel as grounded as they do in2 Fast 2 Furious. It’s hard to deny the franchise’s first-ever sequel isn’t rough around the edges, but the film’s imperfections add to its personality, and I still feel it offers more good than bad. The tone and overall vibe are something that you can’t really find anywhere else in theFast & Furioussaga, meaning2 Fast 2 Furiouswill always be one of the most charming movies in the franchise, despite its shortcomings.
Fast & Furious’ Major Changes Since 2003 Make 2 Fast 2 Furious Better In Hindsight
2 Fast 2 Furious Is Much Easier To Appreciate After The Franchise’s Huge Changes
Given how much theFast & Furiousseries has developed over the years,2 Fast 2 Furious' legacy has only gotten better, not worse. While the films that followed still focused on cars, the franchise slowly moved away from street racing and instead centered more around the characters' criminal elements and their status as outlaws.2 Fast 2 Furiousalso had a heavy crime aspect to it, but the narrative still provided a heavy reminder thatFast & Furiouswas originally about racing, meaning all the major changes in the last two decades only make the sequel better.
Fast & Furious 11will end the main saga and is set to be released in 2026.
In terms of plot and action, I can see why the film gets so much criticism, but in hindsight, it is one of the fewFast & Furiousmovies that doesn’t use vehicles as a prop.The characters' love for cars alongside the dangers of illegal racing was still present in the 2003 project, and whileTokyo Driftcontinued this theme three years later, the franchise changed its vision shortly after. Although I still enjoy the new installments in theFast & Furiousseries, I’ll always have a soft spot for2 Fast 2 Furious, and it deserves more appreciation.
Fast & Furious
The Fast & Furious franchise revs through the adrenaline-fueled lives of Dominic Toretto and his crew of street racers turned global heroes. From the neon-lit streets of Los Angeles to the bustling cities and remote outposts worldwide, they take on high-stakes heists, espionage, and the underground world of street racing. Bound by loyalty and driven by the need for speed, they confront mercenaries, corrupt officials, and personal vendettas all in the name of their found family.
