Guardian - 20 January 2018, 01:57 (+ 2311 days 1 hours and 43 minutes) Movies & TV
With vehicles belching fumes at 7mph, car chase franchise fails to translate to stageOutside of Jaws, it would be tough to think of a movie idea less suited to the theatrical treatment than the rubber-burning, tarmac-eating 2001 car chase spectacular The Fast and the Furious and its seven sequels. But the F&F franchise has overcome terrible dialogue, the loss in 2013 of one of its lead actors (Paul Walker, who died in a car crash) and the recent criticisms of another regular, Michelle Rodriguez, who promised to “say goodbye” to the franchise if it didn’t become more female-friendly. The challenge of reproducing white-knuckle driving stunts in a confined space must have seemed like small beer.On the evidence of Fast & Furious Live, a £25m arena show featuring 11 stunt performers and around 20 vehicles, Universal Studios has overestimated the goodwill toward its hit franchise. Large sections of seating in the O2 were closed off; entire rows in the rest of it were empty. And no wonder. It would be nice to say the worst thing about the show was the exhaust fumes that fill the venue shortly after Vin Diesel has walked off stage following his introductory speech. But the show stinks in both senses. Continue reading...