NEED FOR SPEED

Need For Speed is the latest video-game adaptation to hit the big screen. That is one reason to be cautious about Need For Speed, after all, video-game adaptations do tend to be pretty poor.

Fast cars and outrageous stunts have worked wonders for the Fast & Furious franchise when it comes to earning a fortune at the box-office. Let's not kid ourselves though, Need For Speed is never going to be able to compete with the Fast & Furious films financially. 

By the way, this review is not going to be me just comparing Need For Speed and the Fast & Furious films. It's just hard not to mention them in the same breath, when they are so similar.

Need For Speed stars Aaron Paul as Tobey Marshall, a street racer out for revenge on his ex-rival, Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper), who framed him for murder. Marshall joins a cross-country race where the winner takes all of the cars however, Marshall has something more important on his mind. He wants his name cleared and Dino to pay.

Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul) and
Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper) face off

Need For Speed is not going to blow your mind with its storyline or with any of its acting because, in all honesty, it is average in both those departments. The story is so unmemorable that I am sure there will be some people thinking that this is a spin-off from the Fast & Furious franchise.

Aaron Paul is always going to be a bit of a box-office draw now after the success he had with Breaking Bad. I thought he was fantastic in his role as Jesse Pinkman in that show but in Need For Speed he doesn't really get much of a chance to shine. 

Dominic Cooper tries his best at playing the villain but ultimately fails while Imogen Poots as Julia will annoy you at the start but don't worry, she grows on you as things progress. 

Special mention must go to Michael Keaton, who is just about the only person who attempts to bring some energy to his performance, as Monarch.

There is one thing that has to be praised in Need For Speed and that is the decision to not use CGI for the many stunts that it features throughout its race scenes. They would be pretty impressive if they were produced by CGI but it just adds something to the film when there is a genuine feel to the stunts, inevitably making them even more impressive.

Supercars get flipped and there will be genuine gasps from the audience when they witness some of the stunts and realise it is not CGI.

Just one of the spectacular practical stunts
featured in Need For Speed

Much like Rush last year, the race scenes will get the adrenaline pumping. Unlike Rush though, Need For Speed doesn't have the talent of Ron Howard behind the camera or the likes of Chris Hemsworth or Daniel Bruhl to provide stellar performances. 

That being said, I did enjoy Need For Speed. While not the best film it was entertaining and watchable, unlike other recent films such as Non-Stop or 300: Rise of an Empire.

Petrol-heads of the world will love it. Well maybe everything except for the destruction of the stunning cars on display. 

Verdict: 2/5