Starring: Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Scott ‘Kid Cudi’ Mescudi
Distributor: Independent
Runtime: 131 mins. Reviewed in Mar 2014
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Despite sharing the name of the long-running video game series begun in 1994, the film adaption of Need for Speed is – for better or worse – a throwback to the car action based films of the 1970s and 1980s.
When mechanic and muscle car racer Toby Marshall (Aaron Paul) is framed for the involuntary manslaughter of his close friend Pete by the wealthy Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper), he is sent behind bars for two years. Upon his release, he plots his revenge, and decides to take on Brewster in the biggest illegal street race in North America: the yearly De Leon, organised by radio MC Monarch. To do so, he must first travel cross country in under 48 hours in a Shelby Mustang borrowed from exotic car dealer Julia (Imogen Poots), who joins him on his dangerous traverse avoiding the henchmen hunting them down for the massive bounty announced by Brewster.
We’ve seen this story many times before, but the plot and performances are not the endgame in this film – everything else is simply there to facilitate the deployment of a number of spectacular, high-octane set pieces. If the press is to be believed, the only special effects used in this film were used to paint out the cameras mounted on the cars seen onscreen. If that is the case, this film is an impressive achievement – a handful of million dollar supercars are maneuvered, hoisted by helicopters, flipped, rolled, exploded and incinerated with an admirable lack of restraint. Forget subtlety – this is wholeheartedly big, in-your-face entertainment. Director Scott Waugh’s background as a stunt coordinator and performer is evident in his work here, pushing the boundaries of street racing on film. Although working with an undoubtedly challenging set-up combining wide coverage of stunts and tight camera placements, director of photography Shane Hurlbut is also to be commended for his enabling of Waugh’s vision.
Notwithstanding their playing second fiddle in this adaption, the story and screenplay could have done with some serious tinkering before deployment. Within the largely standard revenge plot, we are treated to largely standard dialogue – we see Marshall and his buddies enjoying some repartee, Marshall waxes lyrical about the importance of his retribution, even Dino has little original to say outside the orthodox antagonist playbook. By the time Marshall mutters the challenge ‘Let’s settle this behind the wheel’, eyes will be rolling at the clichés zooming past at well over the speed limit. The other scripting issue comes with the central battle of good vs. evil– it’s too clear cut to properly initiate a genuine discussion of morality. Dino is presented as entirely unsympathetic, and never displays a redeeming feature. In contrast, Marshall is caring and filled with rectitude, so when he is on his way to bring Dino to justice, there is no room for any other resolution other than Dino’s righteous defeat. The cast tries their best with what they’re served, and do add some gravitas to the script. Aaron Paul, in his first major movie role since finishing on TV smash hit Breaking Bad, brings a fiery intensity, but strays close to being a little one note in his mission for vengeance. Imogen Poots has sassiness to spare, and provides a strong female character to show the boys that girls can drive too – and very fast. Finally, Michael Keaton must receive mention for his winning turn as MC Monarch. Well past his racing prime, Keaton’s joy in watching the races from behind his microphone is infectious and playful, which is just what the cast needed to ward off the doom and gloom of impending death and destruction.
With outlandish yet genuine stunts and a second rate narrative, Need for Speed is retro in its entirety, and seems genuinely proud to wear its ‘throwback’ heart on its sleeve. Come for the spectacular vehicular action and feel free to tune out during any linking scenes.
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