Movie Review: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

When thinking of attending a film so rigid in standards and expectations as The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, only a few questions truly matter. How many car chases can you handle? How do you feel about loads of babes and slick foreign rides? Most importantly, is there any chance this series can improve after the first two films?

After watching the leaden Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson run "2 Fast 2 Furious," anything's an improvement. In a left turn from the rest of the series, newcomer Lucas Black stars as the racing-obsessed, slightly dorky Sean Boswell. Despite the likable attempt to enliven the protagonist, there's nothing more to Boswell's character than that.

Ironically then, despite its grave lack of substance, the strength of "Tokyo Drift" is director Justin Lin's feel for the environment. In Lin's hands, Tokyo's underworld is alluring yet unmistakably alien to American viewers, and the claustrophobic atmosphere only helps the plot. Unfortunately, a few implausibilities and a ho-hum final race burst the bubble.

To Lin's discredit, those races, like most in recent action films, are histrionic and unreadable. When your attention drifts from racing films, where else is there to go?

In a welcome shift, "Tokyo Drift" feels gentler and more character-driven than the last two films, and he almost fools you into believing the characters have real depth. Unfortunately, Lin cannot overcome the script's formula and half-hearted machismo.

One amusing, much-needed cameo at the film's end helps you forget some of the dull parts.

Ultimately, one moonlit scene explains all you need to know: While a hot girl is dreamily explaining to Boswell their shared love of cars, the camera pulls back. Over the stirring soundtrack, we see that the vehicles, not the characters, truly are the ones creating the magic. That small moment underscores the result -- and the failure -- of the entire series so far. What good are stone-faces like Paul Walker, Vin Diesel and Lucas Black next to the rush of a 350Z peeling out?

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