By Ryan Ulrich
Copy Editor
“Overdrive” is overrated. “Overdrive” had audiences disappointed with its over-dramatized action scenes and a predictable love story which left viewers unimpressed.
Written by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, the movie seemed to identically steal the plot of the more famous “Fast and Furious” movies. The film’s storyline was unrealistic, and the dialogue lacked substance. Overall, the movie was bland and the quality of the writing was subpar.
Andrew and Garrett Foster, played by Scott Eastwood and Freddie Thorp are two half-brothers who pay for their extravagant lifestyles by stealing classic cars. In the film, the brothers are out on a heist to steal a vintage Ferrari from a Mobster. The film takes place in Marseille, France during modern times.
Pierre Morel, the producer of the film, attempted to make many action scenes extremely dramatic. Such scenes made the film less applicable to the average viewer’s life. An example of this is when the main characters are being chased by their enemies and drive at unrealistic speeds and dodge through traffic.
The music in the film seemed awkwardly placed in many scenes, and in others, it seemed unnecessary. Many songs did not seem to fit well in accordance with the genre of the movie and left the audience displeased.
The many car chase scenes are compelling at first and seem to use the landscape of France in unique ways. As the movie progresses, the lack of quality dialogue makes the movie lackluster, almost as if the writers had given up halfway through the script.
In certain scenes, Eastwood seemed to remind audiences of his superstar father who had a rather sentimental effect on the film. Throughout most of the film however, Eastwood seemed underprepared for the role and was most likely chosen simply because of his looks.
The female protagonist, Stephanie is played by Ana De Armas and is Eastwood’s love interest. Her character’s dialogue seemed crude and made the movie very predictable. Despite poor writing, De Armas played her role properly and proved she was a competent actress. Her character seemed to be created only to serve as a sex symbol in the film.
The vehicles driven throughout the film stole the show with their elegance. For those who are interested in seeing extremely clean and modified Ferraris, Porsches, Bugattis and BMWs this film is certainly well worth watching.
Overall, the film was disappointing due to the quality of the drama and the plot. A few action scenes carried the film, however, for the most part, it is not worth viewing. The film certainly appeals to motorheads who merely want to see sports cars driven properly.
“Overdrive” is rated PG-13 and is playing in theatres worldwide.
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