I’ve just been to see “Fast and Furious 6” and, part way through, realised that this is the happiest I’ve been in a cinema for years.

I still remember seeing the first Fast and Furious film many moons ago and being utterly gripped by a (by the standards of the later entries in the series) relatively understated and sincere story about an undercover cop getting progressively taken in by the strong heart-ed but troubled gang leader Vin Diesel (or his character… the two being now synonymous to me). It was set against a backdrop of street racing and robbing lorries, but managed to be both edgy and have a real heart.

The sequels quickly descended into trash (principally due to the loss of Riddick). No 2 was all colour and bright shiny things with no substance. No 3 came about a decade late to the ‘isn’t Japan cool and futuristic’ party, but after that they brought back xXx it really got into it’s stride and did what it was really best at from the beginning, having some unashamed fun.

The next three films saw the establishment of an effective forumla of robberies and driving that will never be as memorable as the Italian Job, but always manages to feel much more real and grow progressively more spectacular (at this point I predict that the, currently in pre-production, Fast and Furious 7 will climax with Shane Wolfe driving an aircraft carrier through Sydney before using the aircraft launch catapults to shoot himself onto the roof of the Opera house).

But No 6 is little short of a masterpiece destined never to be fully appreciated by anyone outside of the UK.

You see, the director and producers have tried to take the ‘Fast and Furious’ template and apply it to the UK. i.e. they’re trying to do Fast and Furious London. And let me tell you, you have not grinned as much as me when I realised they were staging an illegal street race at Marble Arch (but sadly didn’t do a drag race down the Mall). This did nothing to hinder the film, instead I felt able to relax and enjoy it, safe in the knowledge that this wasn’t an edgy dark film, but the travelling pantomime of Private Caparzo and co.

…and it had ‘The Rock’…

…and it had my company car (no, really!)…

… and it had a finale that combines Die Hard 2 and Con Air…

… and it had the guy who played ‘The Iron Giant’…

…and it was good.