THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKY0 DRIFT (2006) 2 stars out of 4. Starring Lucas Black, Bow Wow, Sung Kang, Brian Tee, Jason J. Tobin, Nathalie Kelley, Zachery Ty Bryan and Sonny Chiba. Written by Chris Morgan and Alfredo Botello. Directed by Justin Lin. Rated PG-13. Running time: 104 mins.

       
You don't go see a movie such as The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift for the acting. The performers are merely bodies to fill the car seats.

A movie such as Tokyo Drift is all about speed and style, so the real stars of the film are the stunt drivers and production designers.

        The story centers on Sean (Lucas Black), a young man who loves fast cars and is always in trouble because of his need for speed.

        After nearly wrecking an under-construction housing development while racing, he is sent to live with his dad in Tokyo.

        To demonstrate the filmmakers' low opinion of their audience, a title card flashes 'Tokyo, Japan” after Sean's plane lands. As if the audience would get the city mixed up with some other Tokyo.

        No sooner has his dad warned him about staying out of trouble than the young man hooks up with a fast crowd — young men who get their kicks by drifting.

        The sport, created on the mountain roads of Japan, consists of using the brake, shifting gears and taking curves sideways. At least, that is what it looks like.

        There's a lot of burning rubber and screeching tires, a plotline dealing with Japanese criminals — Yazukas, who are like the Japanese Mafia.

        The plot is superficial and formulaic. The cars are the real stars of the movie. They are jazzy and fast and have more personality than most of the actors.

        Tokyo Drift is a summer movie aimed at younger viewers, who will pay to see these cars smash into each other, get totaled or zoom through the streets of Tokyo at nearly 200 mph.

        What's funny is the disclaimer at the end of the movie, basically saying don't try drifting on your street, that the drivers who performed all those harrowing feats in the movies are professionals and know what they are doing.

        In a way, so do the filmmakers. Director Justin Lin and his crew have created a no-brainer, popcorn-munching confection.

        Tokyo Drift is a fast-food movie for non-discriminating consumption. It's dizzingly fast and simple to follow. It's perfect summer escape fare.

        Bob Bloom is the film critic and DVD reviewer at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Ind. He can be reached by e-mail at bbloom@journalandcourier.com or at serialhero48@yahoo.com. Bloom's reviews also can be found at the Journal and Courier Web site: www.jconline.com
Other reviews by Bloom can be found at the Rottentomatoes Web site: www.rottentomatoes.com.