After street racers hear that a nondescript young tofu delivery man, Takumi (Jay Chou), can drive his father's (Anthony Wong) old Toyota AE86 at incredible speeds down Mount Akina, they challenge him for the honour of the fastest time. Like any young man, Takumi has more pressing issues to resolve first: his girl friend Natsuki (Anne Suzuki) is going away for the school holidays and his father is a drunk.
Adapted from the Japanese manga and anime series of the same name, this Hong Kong - Japan co-production avoids the usual issues that bedevil manga adaptations (stilted acting and a lot of exposition) and presents a workable coming-of-age story for Takumi. It is leaven with some humour (mainly from Takumi's best friend, Itsuki (Chapman To)) and spiced with a lot of drift races. The racing scenes down the narrow mountain road, a combination of live action and CGI (what isn't, these days?), are varied and well-directed, and the climatic race is quite exciting.
Cantonese with English sub-titles.
3 out of 5 stars.
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