Torque

Review by Clint Morris

Fast and the Furious Producer Neil H. Moritz swaps studios for a lap to steer the similar-themed Torque to the finish line.

Only this time, he's riding high speed motorbikes not driving muscle cars, and puts pacing before plot and awe-inspiring effects before acting.

Again - another excuse to use the words ‘fun’ and ‘dumb’ in the same sentence.

Squarely aimed at teenage boys and anyone who can fathom to read a whole literary novel, thick but congenial Torque stars Martin Henderson as street racer Cary Ford. Six months ago he split to Thailand after being pinpointed for drug trafficking. Now he’s back to set the record straight – and claim back his biker woman [Monet Mazur].

Unfortunately, trouble hears of his arrival and wants his stash back. Ford refuses to give the drugs back, claiming they’re the only evidence he has to clear his name.

Evil Henry then pops a rival gang leader and frames Ford for it. Now, not only has he got Henry and his boys on his tail, but the dead boy’s brother’s [Ice Cube] gang too.

We film reviewers tend to use the phrase “leave you brain at home” a lot when it comes to talking about recommending movies that don’t offer much stimulation for the brain, but will still pass the time effortlessly enough.

Just this once, let’s elongate that idiom. In the case of the ultra-slick, but oh-so-derisorily-dumb Torque – “leave your brain at the patio”. Not for a second will you need to think about anything whilst watching this one. The dialogue and plot is so woeful, you’ll be laughing all the way home.

But you know what? It was actually fun for not to have to sit there and think about the complex storyline or score the performances of the lead actors for once.

If anything, Torque is a guilty pleasure and then some – a holiday from reality for a while.

Sure it’s corny, wooden and completely ridiculous, but it seems to know that, and is purely on offer for the oodles of teens that flock to the multiplex every Saturday night to simply yahoo, cheer and giggle their way through something unchallenging and patently entertaining.

Martin Henderson, Monet Mazur and Ice Cube have nothing much to do but they look the part and, in this case, that seems to be good enough.

It’s a nice step up the ladder for former local soap star Henderson, who contentedly carries his first lead part. As the film’s token love interest, Mazur also pulls it off nicely enough – in some respects, better than the boys, who seem to be swimming in the dire lines.

Ice Cube’s role is about as one-dimensional as a piece of A4, but once you hear him shout his classic NWA catchphrase ‘F--- the Police’ you enjoy his slightly self-satirical presence.

If you can get past the terrible script and chatter, Torque becomes quite a silly, but fun, ride. It’s fast, furious and full of spunk – and set to one heck of a knee rockin’ soundtrack. The mind-boggling special effects are also sensational – the film’s finale being the highlight.

If you need a comparison picture, let’s just say whilst it’s not Fast and the Furious – that film still wears the crown for slickest, most entertaining fast mobile movie – it runs laps around 2 Fast 2 Furious.

One to wash down with a slab once it hits the small screen.

3 out of 5

Torque
Australian release: Thursday January 22nd
Cast: Martin Henderson, Monet Mazur, Ice Cube, Matt Schulze, Jay Hernandez, Adam Scott.
Director: Joseph Kahn.
Website: Click here.