SUPERCARS, explosions, Hollywood and scantily-clad women – the Fast & Furious Live show is ticking boxes for red-blooded males everywhere.
It’s a recipe that’s worked for the hit movie franchise since the first film hit screens in 2001.
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Set pieces like a rolling oil tanker are impressively doneCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The cocktail has been enough to keep the series going despite the tragic death of a major character and some rather ropey storylines.
But it’s finally hit a roadblock – the £25million live stage show.
A-Lister Vin Diesel rocked up for the opening night and introduced the much-anticipated show to a near sell-out O2 Arena.
And as each of the famous cars from the last 17 years of movies rolled onto the stage, there was a roar – peaking with Dom Toretto’s iconic Dodge Charger.
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Vin Diesel appeared at the opening night to introduce showCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Lineup of cars from the show is impressive with Dodge Charger top of the treeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Clips from the movies played on the giant screen in the background – with archive footage of the late Paul Walker getting a huge ovation.
Then the full-throttle action kicked off and it all fell a little flat.
The premise of the show is to bring the audience into the Fast & Furious family and become part of Dom’s street racer team for one last job.
To do that, we need to take certain lessons – and these involve replaying scenes from the films for the stunts to be then recreated in the arena.
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LED cars are one of the highlightsCredit: Getty – Contributor
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Stunning Elysia Wren leads the showCredit: Getty – Contributor
The special effects used to transport you to different parts of the world and give you a sense of movement are good – there’s a remote controlled missile, flying car, train, plane and flaming oil tanker.
There’s also a scene with several cars covered in LEDs sliding around in the dark – and in the pitch black O2 that’s pretty stunning to see.
But the actual speed of the other action is pretty disappointing – a 200mph Lamborghini Aventador pulling a stunt man around on a door chased by snowmobiles sounds great.
When it’s in front of you at speeds you hit on a morning commute, it’s less impressive.
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Supercars are impressive but travel at low speedsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Special effects help set scene and create idea of speedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Yes, the driving by a great team of stunt drivers is precise and well choreographed and the set pieces are well-thought out but it’s all a little pedestrian.
The show is kept ticking along by two newcomers – the stunning Elysia Wren and built-like-a-tank Mark Ebulue – tasked with involving the crowd.
Fans are asked to hold up coloured pieces of card to change gear and use a nitrous boost in a CGI street race.
Plus the louder they shout the faster they’ll go.
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Fumes created by pyrotechnics, exhaust and screeching rubber are an issue inside arenaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Flying car mirrors the plane jump scene from the moviesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
For £25m it’s a little amateur.
And for those who were fans of the franchise back in 2001 – most likely now in their mid-20s to early-30s – it’s a little childish.
There’s also the problem of fumes. At the interval, the smell of burnt rubber, pyrotechnic smoke and exhaust gas was overwhelming.
A thick fog gradually rose up to the ceiling as the extractors struggled to clear it.
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Wren and Ebulue are tasked with keeping the fans involved with audience participationCredit: Getty Images – Getty
If the show is aimed at kids – it’s not going to be great for their heath.
Fast & Furious has always been about the high-octane action in lavish supercars – and while there’s an incredible lineup of the franchise’s best cars in the live show they’re kept on too tighter leash.
The real stars are the stunt drivers who, despite the tiny floorspace, make the cars dance with incredible precision. Rightly, they got the biggest cheer at the the end.
An arena is not big enough to do this justice and that’s unfortunate. A bold effort but one that ultimately misses the mark.
Behind-the-scenes at the new £25million Fast & Furious Live stunt show featuring iconic cars from the movies
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