Need For Speed is probably one of the least videogames that deserve an actual film adaptation. There's only two or so games of the franchise that have a storyline and they're nowhere as remarkable as the actual gameplay. For sure, this film takes none of the source material other than the cars and the title. The story here is mostly a straightforward chase reveled with elemental cosmic hate grown by revenge. Just like the game, only the racing that brings real appeal while everything else is a filler for the sake of forming a movie. Need For Speed can be a fun blockbuster, but not all of the ideas work.
The story is something not worth remembering, the simplicity at least acknowledges that the racing is the main deal here, but it's also not worth sitting through. The characters and their plight are neither remarkable nor compelling and it would be nice if they're just easy plot devices, but the movie stretches these to attempt a buildup. Unfortunately it instead makes it a long and less interesting distraction from the attraction. It only works when the cars are telling the story, shutting up the generic arcs and forced revenge movie elements that halts the excitement.
Lesser the CGI, better the thrills. The stunts are magnificent in its own way, though most of the credit goes to the camera-work for completely showing the mayhem going on within those tracks. You will find plenty of inventive set pieces where the speed and ridiculous majestically outshine the typical blockbuster explosions. The direction has an excellent taste for suspense and the camera really follows the heartbeat beneath those scenes.
The cast kind of improved the bland characters. Aaron Paul has the charm despite of not uttering his fans' favorite colorful language. He is more natural when he is with Imogen Poots which gives an interesting chemistry in their petty romantic subplot. Dominic Cooper boils a slight threat as the villain. And Michael Keaton preaches his enlightening racing speeches with ludicrous enthusiasm.
This Need For Speed is basically like an awesome video game but with nonsensically long cutscenes, if only we can press the skip button. It is better off sticking to the speed of the action, but the film is unable to make the audience ignore the generic plot, especially when it painfully extends them so it would get a two hour runtime. Stories are good only when they're well told, well defined, and worth listening. The film should have tried a little harder. Again, the momentum and the camera-work are instantly worth the price admission and that is what the target viewers came in for. If they can take the bloat, then it is a solid entertainment.
