Fast Five (2011)
In which we meet: Lucas Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), a Diplomatic Security Services agent who’s charged with bringing in the Toretto clan. We also meet Elena, a Brazilian police woman who’s trying to what’s right in a city that’s outright corrupt, trying to make a difference despite what happened to her policeman husband.
The Plot: Dom, Brian and Mia are fugitives in Brazil forced to take whatever work they can, but when they’re burned while doing a job for Rio mob boss Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), they decide to get payback by taking Reyes’ nest egg: over $100 million in ill-gotten money. To help, they put together an all-star team of past Fast & Furious cohorts including Roman, Tej, Han and Gisele, Meanwhile, Agent Hobbs is on their trail, looking to bring in Dom and Brian as the presumed suspects in the murder of a trio of DEA agents.
Who’s That Guy Again? You may have forgotten Vince (Matt Schulze), Dom’s oldest friend and part of his L.A. crew. It’s Vince that gets Dom involved with Reyes, but he makes up for it by saving Mia from Reyes’ thugs. He’s killed in a shootout later on, but Dom donates his cut from the job to Vince’s wife Rosa and their son Nico (named for Dominic).
Alternate Casting: The part of Hobbs was originally envisioned for Tommy Lee Jones, but Vin Diesel, who was also a producer on Fast Five, noted in a Facebook post that fans wanted to see him and Dwayne Johnson in a fight on film. Diesel took the idea to director Justin Lin and the part was re-written for Johnson, who eagerly accepted. Johnson’s casting in Fast Five, Journey 2, and G.I. Joe: Retaliation in quick succession gave him a reputation as a “franchise saver.”
Signature Stunt: When their first plan to steal Reyes’ money is ruined, the team improvises with Hobbs’ help. Dom and Brian lead Reyes’ men and the corrupt police force on a chase through Rio driving two fast cars dragging Reye’s giant bio-metrically controlled safe behind them. It amounts as a giant wrecking ball, where a lot of property is destroyed as Dom and Brian try to escape with the mother load.
In the end: Hobbs shoots Reyes for wiping out his team, and in gratitude for helping him get payback, Hobbs lets Dom and the gang get a 24-hour head start, but without the money. What Hobbs discovers though is that Dom and Brian switched safes in transit, and the one they left behind is the empty practice safe. Everyone gets a happy ending, and Dom and Brian decide to settle once and for all who the best driver is.
Until next time: In the post-credits scene, Agent Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes reprising her 2 Fast 2 Furious role) brings Hobbs a hot tip about the Toretto case, a picture from high-risk heist in Berlin and one of the perpetrators. It’s Letty! She’s alive! But how? “Do you believe in ghosts?” Fuentes asks. Maybe.
To be continued…