Film review: Need for Speed

Inspired by a series of video games in which players get behind the wheel of souped-up motors, Need For Speed accelerates smoothly into the slipstream of The Fast And The Furious and its high-octane pretenders.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Mar 2014, 20:00 BST
Undated Film Still Handout from Need For Speed. See PA Feature FILM Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Entertainment One. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Film Reviews.Undated Film Still Handout from Need For Speed. See PA Feature FILM Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Entertainment One. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Film Reviews.
Undated Film Still Handout from Need For Speed. See PA Feature FILM Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Entertainment One. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Film Reviews.

Director Scott Waugh puts the pedal to the metal from the turbo-charged opening which establishes a rivalry between the cash-strapped protagonist (Aaron Paul) and his cocksure rival (Dominic Cooper) that drives the narrative to its predictably tragic resolution.

There are few surprises in George Gatins’s simplistic script that casually revs its engine before delivering a high-speed finale to determine who is king of the winding highways.

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Aaron Paul attempts to jumpstart his big screen career off the back of the TV series Breaking Bad and he is extremely likable in a woefully malnourished role.

Undated Film Still Handout from Need For Speed. See PA Feature FILM Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Entertainment One. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Film Reviews.Undated Film Still Handout from Need For Speed. See PA Feature FILM Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Entertainment One. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Film Reviews.
Undated Film Still Handout from Need For Speed. See PA Feature FILM Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Entertainment One. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Film Reviews.

His deep, growling voice cuts through the squealing brakes and crashes of passing motorists, who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Cooper is far less impressive as the slippery antagonist, whose greed, recklessness and overinflated ego bring about his downfall. He is insipid and not remotely menacing.