Need For Speed (PG15) – starring Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper and Imogen Poots, directed by Scott Waugh
Unsurprisingly, movies that use video games as source material are very attractive to studios.
They come with a ready-made audience, almost guaranteed to drop those controllers and head off to the cinema at the prospect of a big-screen adaptation of their small-screen obsessions.
Historically, the resultant movies are not high-scorers by any frame of reference, with perhaps the most ‘successful’ being the Resident Evil movies, Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider, or perhaps the Prince of Persia.
But with a litany of misfires (Street Fighter, Super Mario Brothers, Tekken, Hitman), the latest game to roll the dice has the odds stacked against it.
But with the game in question being the most successful racing title of all time, perhaps Need For Speed already has a head start over its competitors.
The story is one of high-octane, open road action with a dose of revenge thrown in, as ex-street racer Tobey Marshall (Breaking Bad’s Paul), who signs up for a cross-country race in order to take down his ex-business partner Dino Brewster (Cooper).
Marshall’s blue-collar hero is framed for manslaughter by ex-NASCAR Brewster, and the wheelman sets off on his mission of redemption with car broker Julia (Poots) in tow.
Waugh has more extensive experience as a stunt coordinator than as a director, but with the action sequences coming fast and furious, perhaps that’s just as well.
Fans of acclaimed TV show Breaking Bad have a real treat of a year ahead, as along with this turbo-charged actioner, Bryan Cranston’s monsterous Godzilla looms into view this summer.
Game on!
Need for Speed roars into cinemas this Thursday 20th March.
