Need For Speed [3D] – ***

Need For Speed is a thrilling new entry into the racing genre, filled with high-octane racing sequences, but also with a great deal of heart. It is also hot on the heels (pun intended, from the film) of The Fast And The Furious franchise. And while this film bears some similarities with The Fast & Furious, Need For Speed also borrows from the intense rivalry of last year’s F1 biopic, Rush. Yet the film itself is, for all intents and purposes, an extended illegal street race / police chase that seems to pulled right out of the synonymous video game series for which it is adapted from.

As the film opens, the protagonist, Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul) is a mechanic who is dealing with the passing of his father by participating in underground street races in his sleepy town of Mt. Kisco, NY to keep the banks from repossessing the automobile shop his father built, Marshall Motors. After his latest victory, his former rival, Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper), returns to town, albeit with his ex-girlfriend, Anita (Dakota Johnson) in tow.

To add further insult to injury, Dino is a recently retired professional racer turned exotic car dealer himself, after winning the last iteration of the covert DeLeon, a high-profile underground race reminiscent of the classic Cannonball Run, with the jackpot of this one being all of the cars of the competitors. The mastermind and MC behind the DeLeon is DJ Monarch, portrayed with all the passion and humor of an AM shock jockey by none other than Michael “Batman” Keaton. He is a former racer who set out to create the most exclusive and elaborate underground race ever devised. He monitors all of the action from the comfort of his home radio studio, with cameras and GPS trackers covering all of the action on the course.

After the street race, Dino approaches Tobey at his shop with a proposition: finish building an exclusive edition of a Ford Mustang that the legendary Carroll Shelby was last working on, so that he can then sell it to one of his clients for $2 million. After they’ve finished, they debut the car at an auction. The crew is amusingly introduced to the beautiful Julia Maddon (Imogen Poots), who they all mistake for a random model who doesn’t know the first thing about cars. She quickly dispels any doubts by rapid-firing all of the car’s stats. Julia also bets Tobey that if he can get the car over 200 mph, she will buy the car for her employer for $3 million.

Dino is reluctant, but orders Tobey not to drive it. However, Tobey disobeys Dino and takes it out on the test track himself before Dino even arrives. Tobey and his team are able to push the car to 234 mph. The buyer is impressed and agrees to buy it for $2.7 million. With a successful deal, Dino and Tobey’s crew celebrate. Dino invites Tobey and Little Pete (Harrison Gilbertson) over to his uncle’s opulent estate to show off his exotic car collection, replete with 3 identical Koenigsegg Agera’s, European racers which are not even street legal in the US.

Dino makes a new proposal: Race for 100% of the $2.7 million. This could set Tobey up for life, or utterly destroy him and his father’s legacy. Little Pete, who also happens to be Anita’s kid brother, is anxious to get behind the wheel and wants in, too. Tobey, who looked out for Little Pete while Anita was off living the high life with Dino in NYC, is reluctant to let him race, but finally agrees. The three proceed to duke it out, but trouble occurs before the finish line. After the debris is settled, Tobey is arrested and sent to prison for illegal racing, among other charges.

Fast forward 2 years later and Tobey is released on parole. He’s out for vengeance towards Dino. But first, he requires a vehicle so that he may enter into DeLeon and also prove his innocence. He finds the British buyer of the Shelby Mustang and promises to return it, along with $4 million. He agrees, on the condition that his buyer, Julia, accompanies him. At first, he is hesitant to allow anyone to escort him, let alone a woman. With Benny’s (Scott Mescudi aka Kid Cudi) assistance, he tries and fails to shake her.

However, after more run-ins with Dino’s henchmen and law enforcement (taking cues from the Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit game series), Julia and Tobey’s relationship continues to grow, despite Dino placing a bounty on their heads. With some thrilling chases through deserts and forests, the heroes finally make their way to California, with the sixth and final bid in DeLeon. Another incident with thugs puts the crew’s lives in danger, but they are undeterred. Tobey has made the registration check-in and will take his place at the starting line.

The final race is a wonder to behold, with fast-panning zoom-in shots, police choppers from above, and beautiful super cars racing typically tranquil Northern California streets below. Some of the cinematography is simply breathtaking. The best use of the 3D imagery is during ‘in-cockpit’ shots, which make it feel like the viewer is actually behind the driver’s seat. There is also another scene where a car seemingly jumps out into the audience. Otherwise, it is mostly pointless. (Read my views on 3D effects here) However, it’s good to see the technology continue to advance, with ‘full-size’ subjects.

Tobey is finally able to clear his name, while Dino gets what’s coming to him. Overall, Need For Speed is an entertaining racer that will keep audiences sated till the next installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise.