'Fast Five'review: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker take'Furious'franchise fans on a high-octane ride

Action sequel about a high-stakes heist. With Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson. Director: Justin Lin (2:10). PG-13: language, violence. At area theaters.

Now this is how you make a summer movie.

So what if it's only April?"Fast Five"is determined to kick off popcorn season in high-octane style. And while you may not leave enlightened, you'll definitely be entertained.

Having also helmed the last two"Fast and the Furious"sequels, director Justin Lin has become something of an autoeur, with a clear understanding of what makes these movies work: cool cars, tight chases, and characters we can root for.

The latter is key; without a moral center, the franchise would have fallen apart long before we got to number five. Holding it all together is Dom (Vin Diesel), a big-hearted con who honors family above all. So it's no surprise when his sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) and her BF—and Dom's BFF—Brian (Paul Walker) risk everything to break him out of prison.

This puts them all on the radar of unstoppable agent Hobbs (Dwayne"the Rock"Johnson), who soon learns Dom wants to rob Brazil's richest man (Joaquim de Almeida).

Coming along for this 180mph ride are several cohorts from other films, including Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej (Chris"Ludacris"Bridges), who proved much-needed comic relief. As the team works furiously to plan the heist, Hobbes moves ever closer to his target.

Johnson has always been a good sport, so he gamely pretends the entirely-unthreatening Diesel is his match.

In reality, it's almost comical to see them face off, though there is enough testosterone here to burn a hole through the screen.

Fortunately, Lin and returning writer Chris Morgan know how to work a balancing act. They bring in a stronger female presence to add some human interest; alternate action with emotion; and follow every serious moment with a head-snapping surprise.

Sure, a lot of the dialogue is dopey, and the eternally stiff leads once again compete for blankest delivery. But Lin distracts us well, packing deftly-shot races, explosions, and getaways into every corner.

In fact, the biggest problem is that the movie is way too long: he and Morgan keep throwing out ending after ending, as if they can't bear to let us go.

In a way, though, that's a welcome instinct. Even if you pay extra for Imax (well worth it),"Fast Five"feels like a genuine attempt to give us a good time, rather than the typically-cynical grab for our wallets.

It's not often you leave a sequel this far into a series and think,"How quick can they make number six?"

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