Central Intelligence

**Spoiler Alert**

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber/Starring: Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Amy Ryan, Danielle Nicolet and Aaron Paul

Central Intelligence has Hollywood mass market, factory product written all over it, which means the movie will be more about star power than quality movie-making. But in spite of the movie-from-a-mold look and feel, director Rawson Marshall Thurber's comedy isn't a drag. It actually goes down smoothly but I wished the creative minds behind the project had gotten more out of the pairing of its two very likeable stars: Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson. Thurber and company are very aware of their glaring, physical differences (how could one not be?) and they do employ role-reversal--Johnson plays the character with self-esteem issues while Hart's is the former high-school star. But the shortcomings of these films are always the same: lack of creative reach and formulaic characters though Central Intelligence also encumbers itself with a clunky, CIA plot. If not for both actor's charm, Thurber's film would be disposable on arrival.

Beginning twenty-years in the past, we see Robbie Weirdicht--(Dwayne Johnson); a grossly overweight high school kid (Johnson's face CGI'd onto a real body), taking a shower in the school locker room. Seemingly alone, Robbie dances merrily, unashamed of his beefy frame. Unbeknownst to him, a group of bullies watch from around a wall. They approach Robbie shortly thereafter, looking to make his life miserable. Meanwhile, in the school gymnasium, the school's track star and most popular kid; Calvin "The Jet" Joyner (Kevin Hart) enjoys the enthusiastic applause of the student body. While he addresses the gathering, the gym doors burst open. The bullies then hurl Robbie's naked, large body onto the gym floor. Humiliated before his peers, the one person who offers him help is Calvin, who removes his letterman jacket to provide Robbie the means to cover his nakedness. We know the events in the school gym will he a key moment in the character's lives. (question: why would Robbie be taking a shower during a school assembly?)

Twenty-years later, in the present, we see Calvin at his job at an accounting firm and at home with his beautiful wife, Maggie (Danielle Nicolet). Feeling acute disappointment that his life has failed to build on his success in high school and is less than exciting, his anxiety is made more acute when he receives an invitation to his high school reunion. Calvin is determined not to go, in spite of his wife's urging,
A perplexing Facebook invitation from a Bob Stone turns out to be none other than Robbie Weirdicht. Robbie's invitation to have a drink leaves Calvin uneasy but he accepts nevertheless. Expecting to see an older version of Robbie, Calvin is flabbergasted to see Robbie has transformed himself into a towering mass of muscle. As the two sit for a drink, the pretty blonde waitress can't help throwing herself at Robbie while she looks dismissively at Calvin. It is particularly funny to see Robbie wearing a corny, unicorn t-shirt; which the waitress loves but looks utterly ridiculous on a muscle-bound man. Robbie showers Calvin with compliments and reminds him that he was the only one who helped him during his degrading ordeal in high school. Robbie is honest with Calvin and forthcoming about his unhappiness and boredom with his life. When a group of bar toughs challenge Robbie to a fight, Calvin tries desperately to defuse the situation until he watches Robbie give all three men a sound beating.

Calvin soon discovers his friend is into something fishy when Robbie asks him to look into some accounting records that contain alarming lists of sizeable payments. The next day, a CIA agent named Pamela Harris (Amy Ryan) finds Calvin at his house and questions him as to what he knows about Robbie. Harris tells Calvin that Robbie is a rogue CIA agent and is in possession of top secret information concerning satellite codes. Before long, Calvin is drawn into Robbie's cat and mouse game with Harris and the CIA, who believe him to be The Black Badger; a terrorist intent on selling the codes to the highest bidder.

The CIA stuff is less interesting than Calvin and Robbie's relationship, which develops in spite of the espionage nonsense the movie takes too seriously. Robbie's quest to regain his self-esteem, which still bears scars from his high school years, and Calvin's search for a more interesting life, are the real stories within the over-cooked plot.

We know how this will play out. The characters will work out their problems and Robbie will get even with the high school bully (a cameo appearance by a well-known actor) at the high school reunion (where another well-known actor makes an appearance). And of course we know the real Black Badger will eventually emerge.

As stated earlier, I found the CIA angle boring and cliched. If only they had made Harris a funny parody of a CIA agent, it would have expanded the comedy quotient. At least they played with Dwayne Johnson's onscreen tough-guy persona by giving him body-image issues and making more unsure of himself. Hart's character and performance was more on a default setting. We've seen him play this character before and it's wearing thin. Time for something new.

When I first heard Hart and Johnson were to star in a movie together, the idea had great appeal. The very sight of a Goliath like Johnson and a diminutive actor like Hart playing anything onscreen together seemed like a can't fail enterprise. As I mentioned earlier, they could have done much more with the story but Hollywood seldom thinks past casting in movies of this ilk. The movie manages not to be dull, which is due largely to both actors, who have a lot of screen presence and charm.

I'm trying to recall particular moments in the movie but they are quickly eluding me as the days pass. If you see the film, you may suffer the same movie-goers dementia as I have. See the movie if you can't resist Kevin Hart or Dwayne Johnson. Otherwise; wait for something better.

Furious 7

**Spoiler Alert**

Director: James Wan/Starring: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Ludaris, Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Paul Walker, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Elsa Pataky

So comes the end to another Hollywood franchise...at least I think it's the end but unlike many gaudily budgeted series that lose their gas somewhere in the middle of second installment, The Fast and Furious series never lost its preposterous but intoxicating edge. An though I'm usually more than glad to see most franchises expire, I am actually sorry to see this series say goodbye. I'm also actually surprised the Furious saga is being retired. The last few movies gained some steam--and some fun cast members--without diminished inspiration. But good things stay good by leaving before their welcome is well-worn and the series does just that.

While it is sad to see Dominic Toretto and his crew retire, the loss of Paul Walker is sadder still. His presence in the film casts a bit of melancholy on the story. So as we say goodbye to the franchise, we also bid farewell to someone who was a mainstay in the series. It is fortunate for fans and the filmmakers that Walker was around long enough to complete the film.

Furious 7 takes us out with a bang and some new faces. The last film introduced Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), brother to Owen Shaw (Luke Evans); the latter didn't fare too well when he provoked Dominic and his crew. Deckard is one of those action movie villains who is obscenely trained as a special forces this and that and is as wily as they come. Deckard was a lethal agent in Han's (Sung Kang) death, as we saw in the last film. Deckard wastes little time plotting the deaths of the rest of Dominic's crew as revenge for his brother. Before the Furious crew can fully mourn their murdered friend, Deckard blows up Dominic's home, which almost claims the life of the crew leader and Mia (Jordana Brewster) in the process.

Deckard had scuffled earlier with Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) in the FBI agent's office after accessing a computer file to locate Dominic's address. Deckard manages to escape, leaving Hobbs hospitalized and out of action.

Angry about being Deckard's prey and hungry for retaliation, Dominic gathers his crew but before they can take action, the group is visited by a government agency operative who calls himself Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell, who has a lot fun with his role). Mr. Nobody is willing to turn a blind eye to Dominic and his crew's hunt in exchange for a mission in the Caucasus mountains. An African terrorist named Jakande (Djimon Honsou; yes, EVERYONE makes an appearance in this flick), has kidnapped a computer whiz named Ramsey who has created a program that would allow the user access to any cellphone or computer in the world. Mr. Nobody wants the target captured before he or she can be tortured for the device containing the coveted information. With few alternatives, Dominic and crew accept the mission and the challenge.

The hitch in the plan is Brian O'Connor (the late Paul Walker) and Mia's new life as parents. Caught between fatherhood (family is everything to Dominic and the crew) and his craving for danger, Mia allows Paul to join the mission.

And of course the unfinished business between Letty (Michelle Rodgriguez) and Dominic is an issue in need of address in the film. Rejoining the crew while trying to restore her memory of her time with Dominic is another sub-story in the narrative.

It goes without saying that the Caucasus mission is over-the-top and deliriously entertaining; two attributes by which we identify the series. Why a para-military operation would involve souped-up hot-rods is a conundrum for the ages but this is Furious 7; the fans knows not to spoil the fun with logic. Director James Wan, known for his work in the horror genre offerings The Conjuring and the Saw and Insidious films, shows a deft, instinctive touch with action scenes as well.

The mission becomes more interesting when Deckard shows up to foil and spoil and the computer geek's identity adds a little twist to the proceedings. But Dominic and gang learn the device Mr. Nobody is after is hidden in (what else?) a beautiful, sleek Maserati (I think I got the make right) inside an Arab billionaire's suite in a luxury high-rise in Dubai. The sequence calls for more spectacular, impossible goings on, including an electrifying building to building car flight.

Everything leads to a showdown in the L.A. streets; Dominic and crew's hometurf, with Deckard and Jakande visiting all manner of Biblical destruction on city blocks and buildings.

The series goes out the way it came in; with fast, cool cars, beautiful women, exotic locales, and always a hyper-kinetic, breakneck pace.

Jason Statham takes a break from his usual hero status to play the bad guy and does it well. With Diesel, Johnson and Statham, there is more than enough testosterone to challenge a first-world army.

Everyone gets his or her share of screentime and of course all the franchise loose-ends are neatly tied up.

In spite of its now iconic cast, The Fast and Furious series owes much to Diesel's Herculean charisma. What will he do with it now?

A premise I didn't think would survive past a sequel became a seven-movie phenomenon. That doesn't happen often and if one should come along again, it won't be anything like Fast and Furious. Let that statement serve as a lofty compliment. Somehow the thought of there being no more Furious movies to look forward to makes me feel quite sad.