Jordana Brewster and Paul Walker.

The Fast and Furious blockbuster franchise built on speed races returns, with the all-star cast making their comeback for another addictive badass ride.

After Dominic 'Dom' Torreto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O'Conner's (Paul Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin's empire and left their crew with US$100 million in the previous series, Fast Five (2011), the crew members try to move on, separately.

Dom lives with Elena (Elsa Pataky); Dom's sister, Mia, (Michelle Rodriguez) and O'Conner just have had a son; Gisele (Gal Gadot) and Han (Sung Kang) have moved to Tokyo; while, Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges) live in a total luxury.

None of them could return home.

Meanwhile, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and his new partner, Riley (Gina Carano), are tracking a lethal Russian military convoy, believed to be led by former British Special Forces soldier, Owen Shaw (Luke Evans).

Shaw's reputation, along with his vile skilled mercenary driver, means that Hobbs believes only Dom and
his elite street-master crew can handle them.

At first, Dom sees no reason for him and the gang to help out, until he finds out that Letty, his long-term girlfriend ' presumed dead ' is Shaw's second-in-command feme fatale.

Making a deal with Hobbs, Dom calls up his crew; ready for the mission in exchange for full amnesty for him and the crew.

Flying off to London, Torreto and his crew are taken to Shaw's London hideout. It turns out the trip is a trap to distract the crew and police while Shaw's crew conducts another rip-off elsewhere.

And the long-awaited car chase begins. But the big question is, will Dom and his crew get their chance to return home?

Engineered by Justin Lin on the director chair for the fourth time, the latest Fast & Furious 6 brings in all the grandeur a speed car-based film franchise needs.

Celebrating more than a decade of the film franchise, Fast & Furious has and will always be fun, thriving series to watch ' even with its rather simple storyline.

For some people ' who found the third and fourth issues random movies ' will get an answer in Fast 6, as it says on its tagline, 'All roads lead to this'.

This time around, Lin maintains his repetitive yet solid formula for a box office flick, focusing on cars, speed and some real-deal action.

Independent of its European setting, the filmmakers would not consider making another Fast film without incorporating American muscle cars in the film's fleet.   

Classics ' including a 1969 Dodge Daytona for Toretto, 1971 Mark-1 Ford Escort for O'Connor and a 1969 Ford Anvil Mustang for Roman ' end up sharing the road with sexy European models like the 1970 Jensen Interceptor for Letty, 2012 Aston Martin DB9 for Shaw and a 2012 Lucra LC470 for Tej based on the stunning 1960s Lister Jaguar race car.

Lin also brings in a Chieftain tank and fabricates a full-scale, fully functional exterior and interior of a Russian Antonov plane.

The casting; Diesel, Walker and the rest of the Fast & Furious crew give their usual cool and fun ' with a little bit of humor ' performance.

Rodriguez gives a stellar performance when she is involved in a fight scene with Carano, the former mixed martial arts artist; while, Evans offers a solid, intimidating gesture as a villain.

Fast & Furious 6

Producers: Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel
Director: Justin Lin
Screenplay: Chris Morgan
Cinematographer: Stephen F. Windon
Casts: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Luke Evans, Joe Taslim

' Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

From The Weekender

All the streams. Where are the crowds?

Local music now dominates streaming charts across Southeast Asia. So why aren't Indonesian artists filling bigger rooms?

Read on The Weekender

Popular

Indonesian hotel chain confirms exit from Cuba

Corruption scandals, rupiah fall revive reshuffle talks

Waiting is not an option