2 Fast 2 Furious

For a sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious presents more questions than answers. Throughout this revved-up, testosterone borefest, I found myself drifting into logical thoughts way too intellectual for a movie like this.Is traffic really so thin in Miami that street racers can close down entire communities with no problem?Did lead actor Paul Walker graduate from the Keanu Reeves school of blank-stare acting?And if this is a sequel, wouldnt 2 Fast 2 Furious be better suited for the title of the fourth picture, since two plus two equals four?While The Fast and the Furious star Vin Diesel is notably absent, Walker returns as the former L.A. cop Brian OConner. As the film opens, he has moved to Miami and found a life as a street-racing hustler. But OConner is busted one night after a race and forced by the FBI and DEA to assist them in infiltrating a drug kingpins crime syndicate.OConner agrees, but only after he is allowed to bring along his childhood friend Roman Pearce (Tyrese).OConner and Pearce get jobs from the kingpin with help from a DEA mole (Eva Mendes), but the deeper they become involved in the job, the fewer people they find they can trust.I wasnt a fan of the original film. While some critics praised it for its fun, I found it to be a limited action film that was too stupid for its own good. The sequel only intensifies those thoughts it looks more like the movie version of the video game Crusin USA than a coherent film. Dont get me wrong, mindless action films can work. But when your film consists mainly of CGI shots of cars going 160 mph and dialogue that seems to have been written by a 4-year-old, then its hard to have any fun.Walker continues to prove that he may be the worst leading man in the history of cinema. This guy has the emotional range of a cardboard box, struggling with such challenging lines like Lets do this, bro.On the other hand, Tyrese shows a flair in his performance that proves to be the highlight of the film. The rapper-turned-actor made a splash in Baby Boy in 2001 and shows here that, if given the right material, he can be a successful action star.2 Fast 2 Furious was directed by John Singleton, best known for the 1991 film Boyz N the Hood. While watching this film I couldnt help but think how much promise the director has shown. Vin Diesel managed to distance himself from this mess; its too bad Singleton didnt do the same. Then again, with a more than $50 million opening, its Singleton and Walker who are getting the last laugh. Maybe by the time the studio decides to make third installment, Tyrese will find something a little more credible to sink his promising career into. Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton took time out from attending baseball games and playing Tiger Woods Golf during his vacation to review this film. He would love for you to take time out and e-mail him at mcompton@bgdailynews.com.