NEED FOR SPEED Review

The first trailer for stuntman turned director Scott Waugh's sophomore effort, Need for Speed, hinted at something more than your typical video game movie; it was orchestral and well put-together with pedigree and something slightly haunting, solemn and meditated about its approach to the unexplainable infatuation people can have not just with cars, but with danger. What the final film actually feels like though is a slick pop confection with good intentions, don't get me wrong, but whose lyrics are nothing but vapid and a chorus that is completely forgettable. I don't play video games at all and despite the fact the Need for Speed gaming franchise is one of the most successful of all time I can't help but feel like this flick missed the bandwagon and is coming around at least ten years too late. This would have been another fine-enough companion piece to the phase that gave us Torque, Biker Boyz, Stallone's Driven and of course the original Fast and Furious title. Still, even the F&F movies aren't really about street racing anymore and even if they were the only incarnation of that series this seems to have taken any note of would be the fourth with its dry plot points and inability to build the right kind of tension or drama and that is the least favorite for most fans of the series. Waugh has a good eye, his shots are nicely put together and if nothing else the film looks spectacular, but even with this kind of compliment comes the stipulation a film about ex-cons, street racers and cross-country road trips that include outrunning the police at every turn shouldn't look as "nice" as the film makes them out to be and certainly not as clean as these guys are able to maintain. It simply all feels a bit forced, a bit strained and the audience can sense that. There is a line in the film where Imogen Poots character, Julia, says to Aaron Paul's Tobey Marshall that she understands that driving fast is necessary, but driving like a maniac is not and especially with the intention Paul's character has in mind. I only wish first-time screenwriter George Gatins would have followed some of his own advice and allowed the fast driving to guide the script rather than indulging in the presumed wants of the audience and delivering action for its own sake rather than allowing it to drive the narrative.

First Trailer for NEED FOR SPEED

As a non-video game player as well as someone who didn't see director Scott Waugh's previous directorial effort (Act of Valor) I really have no excitement or anticipation when it comes to the big screen adaptation of Need for Speed. The one intriguing factor here is the cast. With Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul heading it up there is a certain amount of intrigue in how the actor will fare with big budget material and a leading man status while his supporting cast is made up of Dominic Cooper (seemingly hamming it up as the baddie) Kid Cudi, Imogen Poots and Michael Keaton. These guys alone would likely pique my interest in a flick, but the trailer is surprisingly eloquent for a movie based on a video game about flashy cars and loud engines. Given, this is merely a teaser and we don't know if the entire film will mirror the tone of the trailer, but it would be interesting to see the film go in a completely different direction than everyone was expecting. While the cars are certainly there and the footage rivals a Fast & Furious flick there is clearly more drama at play here. The story will follow Paul's low-key mechanic who is framed by Cooper's character for manslaughter. This somehow leads to underground racing tournaments that no doubt play a large role in the resolution of this film. Consider me interested, but not necessarily excited. Need for Speed opens in theaters on March 14, 2014.