The problem with The Seven Samurai is that the Rock isn’t chasing the Seven Samurai, responding to “you’re right” with “of course I am!” and swearing to kill the sonuvabitch. Admittedly, the problem with Fast Five is that it’s an idiotic cartoon you even can’t begin to take seriously, but it’s important to acknowledge that both thoroughly entertaining action films have their faults.
Caveat: I have not seen the first four films of this series, and it’s possible I would have been more emotionally invested if I had. I didn’t feel lost however, thanks to succinct exposition and Vin Diesel’s expressive face always letting us know whether a memory was happy or sad.
