While the weekend’s big new release, “Need for Speed”, has some entertaining action sequences, it isn’t a great car racing movie. However, this genre has had some high-powered entries over the past few years – some clear winners and some clunkers.
“The Fast & Furious” series has been incredibly popular and successful since it took the green flag back in 2001. Last Summer’s “Fast & Furious 6” grossed a whopping $790 million worldwide. It’s no wonder “Fast 7” is continuing production (in Abu Dhabi) even after star Paul Walker’s death in November.
2006 was a big year for auto racing on the silver screen. Disney/Pixar’s “Cars” is still the highest-grossing in the genre (and my favorite Pixar effort, as you know). With cameo voice appearances by “The King” Richard Petty and others, and with an authentic look and feel of the NASCAR scene from an animated perspective, “Cars” is a modern classic.
Also that year, Will Ferrell’s hilarious “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”, which was his first collaboration with buddy John C. Reilly. It also featured breakout performances by Sacha Baron Cohen, Amy Adams, and Jane Lynch. Adjusted for inflation (according to BoxOfficeMojo.com), this is the third-biggest-moneymaker of Ferrell’s career.
A quick glance in the pits: 2005’s “Herbie: Fully Loaded” (with a young Lindsay Lohan), the Wachowskis’ epically-long 2008 adaptation of “Speed Racer” were busts, as well as Jason Statham’s R-rated “Death Race” (2008).
Pixar’s decision to make “Cars 2” (2011) is still a smart one in my book, though critics blasted it, and the Lightning McQueen “World Grand Prix” plot was overshadowed by Mater’s spy adventures. It’s an underrated and enjoyable action-adventure. Last summer’s animated “Turbo” was solid, nicely combining an far-out plot with a real-world setting (though hardly anyone saw it due to the Minion domination of “Despicable Me 2”).
Most recently, director Ron Howard’s “Rush”, which chronicled the real-life rivalry between drivers Nicki Lauder and James Hunt, was a critical hit but not a box office success. The drama grossed only $27 million in theaters. And while Daniel Bruhl received numerous nominations for his piercing performance as Lauder, “Rush” couldn’t make it onto the Academy circuit.
Along with “Fast 7”, there could be other racing-related films to gear-up for in the future. There’s no doubt the collaborating studios of DreamWorks, Touchstone, and Disney would love to see “Need For Speed” become a winning franchise, but I don’t think this first film will have enough gas to make it to victory lane.