Need for Speed: Movie Review

Director Scott Waugh spend most of his Hollywood career working on stunts for films like “Speed”, “The Italian Job”, and many more.  In 2012 Waugh helmed his first feature film, “Act of Valor”.  Although the acting was non-existent (a majority of the cast were actual Seals), the action sequences were fantastic and intense.  Giving the reigns to Waugh to helm the video game turned movie “Need for Speed” was a no-brainer. Waugh has proven he has what it takes to make a wildly entertaining action flick.  The core audience for this film are not showing up for the acting.  Thankfully having Aaron Paul, Rami Malek, and Dominic Cooper in the cast give us some pretty decent acting without even trying.  “Need for Speed” is stupid, but it’s also oh-so-fun.

After being released from prison, Tobey Marshall (Paul), sets out to take revenge on the man who set him up for murder, Dino Brewster (Cooper).  In order to get his revenge, Tobey must be admitted into an illegal cross-country race that Dino is taking part in. 

The plot for “Need for Speed” is paint-by-numbers and just like “Act of Valor”, it is the action set pieces that make watching it worthwhile.  The races and cars are insane, but what makes them so fantastic are the locations.  Just like in the game, we are taken through canyons, cities, red-wood forests.  “Need for Speed” could very well be the best video-game-turned-movie ever made.  Rami Malek (who was in last year’s brilliant “Short Term 12”) is easily one of my favorite character’s here.  There is one scene where Malek decides to quit his job and how he goes about doing it is absolutely hilarious. 

The trailers make “Need for Speed” seem like a “Fast & Furious” copy-cat, but I feel it deserves more credit than that.  However, fans of the “Fast & Furious” films will most definitely enjoy “Need for Speed” as well.

By: Marc Ferman