--- title: "Fast & Furious: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/fast-and-furious/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/fast-and-furious" critics_score: 50 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Fast & Furious (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 50 from 14 reviews: 2 positive, 7 mixed, 5 negative. Most critics land in the middle, and the praise clusters in one place: the reunion of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Review after review names their chemistry as the main reason to watch, and several single out the opening stretch, an early heist and a night-time Los Angeles street race, as the film doing what it does best. Justin Lin gets a few kind words for keeping the pace brisk, and The Hollywood Reporter goes further, crediting him with stronger character work than the chases alone would suggest. The reservations start once the film leaves the streets. The dark, cramped tunnel chases of the second half are faulted for hard-to-follow editing, and some reviews object that the drug-running plot pushes the street racing aside. The spread is wide: Variety calls it the weakest entry in the series, while Empire blames computer-enhanced car action for losing the original’s grit. Even the warmer notices concede the later chases repeat themselves. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2009. The review finds the film a smart, energetic return to the franchise, with stronger character development alongside its chases. It praises Justin Lin’s balance of dramatic moments and character flow with hyper-action. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/fast-amp-furious-film-review-93021/) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 3 April 2009. The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. No review details are available in the returned page text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/movies/03fast.html) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Rating C+. 2 April 2009. Phipps finds the film agreeably dopey but says it loses momentum after an engaging opening. He praises the early heist and the chemistry between Diesel and Walker, while criticizing the poorly choreographed, claustrophobic climax. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/fast-furious-1798205976) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 2 April 2009. Ebert gives the film a mixed verdict, finding it an energetic but thin action spectacle. He singles out the reunion of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker as a strength. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/fast-and-furious-2009) ## Time Out — Derek Adams Rating 3/5. 7 April 2009. Adams gives the film three out of five stars, suggesting a middling verdict. The available page text highlights the reunion of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker but provides no specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/fast-furious-1) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 3/5. 8 April 2009. The review finds the film a familiar, messy return to the franchise, with its leads’ reunion the main point of interest. It praises the LA road race but criticizes the dark, claustrophobic tunnel action and hard-to-follow editing. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/fast-and-furious-review/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 2/5. Jones finds the fourth film weak and creatively exhausted. He criticizes its drug-running plot for sidelining the street-racing that defined the franchise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-kpg6ck/fast-furious) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2008. Newman judges it a crushing disappointment, saying its stars are largely on cruise control. He particularly faults the computer-enhanced car action for lacking the original’s grit and excitement. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/fast-furious-2-review/) ## The Guardian — Xan Brooks Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2009. Brooks finds the film confused and irritable despite its brisk pace. He singles out the repetitive car chases and calls the plot inconsequential excess baggage. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/apr/10/fast-and-furious-film-review) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2009. McCarthy calls it the weakest entry in the series, criticizing its hollow posturing and incoherent action. He singles out the tired, recycled script as the film’s central failure. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/fast-furious-1200507374/) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2009. Carty finds it a worthwhile return to the original’s story, though it does not match the first film. He praises the lead actors’ chemistry while noting that the later chase scenes become repetitive and over-the-top. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/fast-furious-film-review-by-stephen-carty) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 3/5. 18 November 2009. Lambie finds the film muddled but ultimately watchable as trashy entertainment. He praises the rooftop pursuit and spectacular night-time race, while criticizing the tonal shifts and limp finale. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/fast-furious-dvd-review/) ## HeyUGuys — David Sztypuljak Rating 5/10. 1 October 2009. The critic finds the film disappointing and says it fails to live up to the franchise. They praise the effects but complain that the story is implausible and the cars have lost their novelty. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/review-fast-and-furious/) ## Paste — Jeffrey Bloomer Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 3 April 2009. Bloomer finds the film amusing in places but ultimately underwhelming. He particularly faults its incompetent action sequences and muddled sense of what the story is about. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/justin-lin/fast-furious) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/fast-and-furious.md