Dwayne Johnson is Definitely Furious in Action-Packed Faster

DVD Release Date:  March 1, 2011
Theatrical Release Date: November 24, 2010
Rating: R (for strong violence, some drug use and language)
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Run Time: 98 min.
Director: George Tillman Jr.
Actors: Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Maggie Grace, Carla Gugino, Tom Berenger, Jan Hoag

Revenge is the driving force behind many an action movie, and Faster is certainly no exception.

In fact, just as Driver (Dwayne Johnson) is about to say goodbye to life behind bars, he's already got his next law-breaking shenanigans planned. But it's not the requisite power ploy or a heated crime of passion, mind you. Instead, he's dead set on ending the lives of those who ended his brother's, and he'll do whatever it takes to knock them off one by one, despite the oh-so-wise words of his warden (Tom Berenger) who tries to steer him in the direction of biblically mandated forgiveness.

Without as much as a trace of consideration, Driver says forgiveness just isn't really in the cards. And apparently, his newfound freedom isn't all that important either because after successfully locating the prison's exit, Driver barely enjoys a breath of fresh air before his new plan rapidly kicks into gear. And trust me, once the story kickstarts into action, it's better to check logic at the door and just roll with it because after Driver picks up his vintage ride that's armed with particularly convenient amenities, like a big ol' revolver and a random list of names and addresses, things get crazy—and fast.

Perhaps, providing a little insight into his narrowly drawn character, Driver is pretty fast and furious when it comes to achieving his objective. Unlike the majority of action flicks where the hits are typically accompanied by a campy one-liner, well, Driver doesn't have time for humor—pithy or otherwise. He's all business and doesn't even mind if he takes someone out in broad daylight, like when he's sitting in a cubical, for example.

Once those dead bodies start piling up, we're eventually introduced to another character who lacks morals and a proper moniker: Cop (Billy Bob Thornton), an officer on the verge of retirement who still enjoys the occasional shot of heroin, even though he's, well, a paid government official. And providing one of the film's few respectable shots of estrogen is his ever-earnest, unnamed partner (Carla Gugino), who wants nothing more than to see justice served.

Meanwhile, upping the ante even further, there's someone else trailing Driver, too, namely a cocky assassin who simply goes by Killer (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). Growing a little bored with a life of crime, something he regularly confesses to his counselor by Bluetooth, he not only serves as an equally deadly force to be reckoned with, but as a hearty dose of comic relief in an otherwise serious storyline.

To say much more about Faster's plot would be, well, redundant, because not all that much happens that you haven't already seen in countless movies of this ilk. There are well-paced car chases, shots fired with utmost precision and plenty of collateral damage to boot.

But for those who enjoy nothing more than a big, loud, escapist flick with a little takeaway value on a holiday weekend, don't worry. Faster isn't a turkey. If anything, it's the right move forward for the actor formerly known as The Rock.

After all, if you've clearly got a fighter's physique and have that hulking, brooding persona down to a science, there are definitely worse gigs—like sporting a pink tutu in Tooth Fairy or playing yet another deadbeat dad in a Disney movie.

CAUTIONS:

• Drugs/Alcohol:  Social drinking, plus a corrupt cop (Billy Bob Thornton) uses heroin.
• Language/Profanity:  A smattering of your usual profanity suspects including sh--, as-, dam-, he-- and fu--, plus instances where the Lord's name is taken in vain.
• Sex/Nudity:  There's a scene in a strip club where the girls are dressed in super skimpy bikinis (instead of being naked) as they work the poles.
• Violence:  For those squeamish about blood, Faster won't be your movie. There's lots and lots of bloodshed (some scenes are particularly graphic when people are shot at close range) mostly due to gunfire. And per the action movie norm, high-speed car chases and particularly tense situations are simply par for the course.
  
  

Christa Banister is a full-time freelancer writer, specializing in music, movies and books-related reviews and interviews and is the author of two novels, Around the World in 80 Dates and Blessed Are the Meddlers. Based in Dallas, Texas, she also weighs in on various aspects of pop culture on her personal blog. 

For more information, including her upcoming book signings and sample chapters of her novels, check out her Website.