The sequel to the racing smash THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS may not have Vin Diesel as its star, but it burns with even higher octane than its predecessor, and a lot less extraneous drama. Back in action is undercover cop Brian O39Connor Paul Walker whose career has hit the skids since he let Diesel39s character escape at the last film39s end. He has sunk in status and is now a fringe dweller on the Miami street racing scene. A chance at redemption arrives when the fuzz recruits him to investigate Carter Vellone Cole Hauser, a top dog street racer with dangerous drug connections. O39Connor recruits his bickering childhood pal modelsinger Tyrese, now a nitro burning ex con from the Diesel school of toughness, to help him pull the bad guys to the curb with a tyre spinning vengeance. John Singleton BOYZ IN THE HOOD, HIGHER LEARNING directed, and obviously had great fun delivering, a straight up racing thriller that39s free of the message bearing pressure of being a John Singleton film. 2 FAST fairly roars off the screen with comic book exuberance and a cheerful disregard for anything that gets in the way of its forward momentum. Best of all is Tyrese, a natural, laid back star he39s not afraid to poke fun at his own shirtless model boy image and amply compensates for the mighty Vin39s absence. Rapper Ludacriss is also memorable as O39Connor39s mechanic, as is model Devon Akoi as a cute female racer.