2 Fast 2 Furious

15, 2003, Directed by John Singleton
Starring: Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Cole Hauser

The production of 2 Fast 2 Furious, the (believe it or not) second film in The Fast and the Furious franchise, was plagued with sure signs of bad-sequel syndrome; Paul Walker was the only original cast member to return, with even director Rob Cohen jumping vehicle, leaving it to Boyz N the Hood guy John Singleton to lift the reigns. As doomed as things sounded, the result is an equally as fun, even more quotable if a little tiresome rehash of similar events. The presence of Cole Hauser and Eva Mendes (as drug cartel boss and undercover cop girlfriend, respectively) helped lift things, as Paul Walker’s former cop Brian O’Conner and former criminal pal Roman Pearce (a wisecracking Tyrese Gibson) are handed carte blanch by the feds in order to go undercover themselves, ride around Miami and bring Hauser's Carter Verone down. Cue car-racing time trials, fit with Brian and Roman pulling dangerous stunts on busy highways, and a central friendship between the two which adds neat laughs in between the action - all of which makes up for the lack of Diesel.

3/5