I caught this movie on a Friday afternoon at a half-filled AMC near the beach. I turned it into a little family night, bringing along my mom, who’s an action movie fan through and through. But by the middle of the film, she was fast asleep. That should give you a hint about the movie’s overall energy levels and pacing.

Yes, I know, I contributed to the box-office numbers that made this the biggest opening of 2009. But hey, consider it a small cinematic sacrifice for my (loyal) readers.

The film kicks off with a hijacking scene, most of which you’ve already seen in the trailer. We reunite with the early-2000s dream team: Vin Diesel as Dominic, the stoic, misunderstood, muscle-car philosopher; and Paul Walker as FBI agent Brian O’Connor, still serving SoCal charm with a dash of smolder.

It’s a revenge story with some reunions thrown in, following the loss of Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), which brings Dominic back into the underground world and into conflict with Brian once again.

Mild Spoilers Ahead

Dominic must infiltrate the operations of Campos, a major drug lord (played wonderfully by John Ortiz), while Brian is back with the FBI, pretending to chase criminals as he works through his feelings. Mia (Jordana Brewster) also returns, adding some romantic tension and continuity from the first film.

If this all sounds like the perfect ingredients for a high-octane sequel, you wouldn’t be wrong—but somehow, it doesn’t quite gel. At just over 90 minutes, the movie still managed to feel longer than Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

There are some solid action sequences, two chase scenes that genuinely impress, and lots of nods to the original Fast & Furious for longtime fans. But between the hit-or-miss acting and overly familiar plot, much of the film feels like filler between stunts. It sometimes feels more like a stylish video game or a high-budget music video than a fully fleshed-out movie.

All that said, I’m clearly not the target demo for this franchise anymore. If you’re here for high-speed nostalgia, nitrous-boosted escapism, and Vin Diesel brooding at dusk, you’ll probably leave satisfied. As for me, I was most excited by the trailers for Transformers, Land of the Lost, and Star Trek. But hey, thanks for the night out, Mom.