A Western has that moment in the story when the hero makes peace with his broken life and decides it is better to die in a blaze of gunfire than to live out the rest of his days as an ordinary gentleman.
Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) of The Fast and the Furious franchise is that hero. He is also the focus for today’s Wednesday Warriors.
From an early age, Dominic took to cars, tearing them apart, putting them together. He had within him the ability to make things go faster. Eventually, his hobby turned into a money machine where he spent most of his time souping up old pieces of junk into gleaming bullets that would scream down a track and win challenges without effort. His girlfriend Letty (Michelle Rodriquez), who grew up with him, had a similar passion and made the perfect match for the speed demon. They had an understanding—she would be by his side and he wouldn’t tell her what to do. Then again, Dominic was the type who didn’t like anyone telling him what to do either.
But something exists within Dominic few know about—a darker side.
Apart from his thriving business in car restorations, Dominic also has a side business. It isn’t a hobby. It isn’t something he has to do. The thrill of beating an inferior vehicle on the track isn’t enough for the turbo-seeker. He needs a bigger thrill.
Jacking trucks is that thrill.
When Brian (Paul Walker) shows up as the young hotshot on Dominic’s turf, suspicions arise. Who is this guy who no one has ever heard of to become all of a sudden the pedal-pounder’s best friend? Does he too have a secret life no one knows about?
As much as anyone would want to pin a felony against the NOS burner, Dominic is the fastest man on the road. He can race against the best in the world, drifting his way to the prize without much work other than his courage and strength to carry him across the finish line.
The life of Dominic Toretto is more than cars, though. In the bursts of octane, the crowds cheering, and the smell of diesel, lives a man who will do anything to step in for a friend and take the proverbial rap, if that is what he has to do to save a buddy. He will surrender everything he has worked hard for and give it all away, if it means he would be rescuing those who need his help.
Brian may not be who he says he is, but he recognizes Dominic’s loyalty to his friends. He understands early in his friendship with the road warrior that Dominic wouldn’t betray those who had supported him.
When you’re a friend with Dominic, you’re a friend for life.
Have you seen The Fast and the Furious? What do you think of the character Dominic Toretto?
Looking to God 
An actor of limited ability, but there’s something permanently endearing about Vin Diesel. I think there’s an honesty to him that you seldom find in other very big Hollywood stars.
I’ve seen all the Fast and Furious films and I think Dominic Toretto’s character and his appeal can be summed up in one scene. I think it was Tokyo Drift, in which the regular line-up didn’t really appear, until the end when a car rumbles up and inside is Toretto and I thought, ‘oh, look, it’s Vin Diesel!’ It was like an old friend returning…
I’ve watched/own all the Fast and Furious movies with my wife. I have to say that Toretto is one of my “favoritest” anti-heroes in any movie thus far. It must be that devotion to family, and that he won’t/works hard not to, hurt any innocent.
I love a good action movie, and when they are able to keep amping up the excitement with new stunts and new villains (my favorite so far has been Jason Statham), well, I just have to keep watching. Thanks for picking Dominic Toretto as your Wednesday Warrior !!
I have not but your description makes it sound worthwhile to check it out.
Vin Diesel in general is an interesting character. There’s a new video on YouTube with him playing Dungeons & Dragons. I guess it’s to promote his new movie, but I believe he wrote the introduction to one of the manuals way back when. So it’s always odd being reminded that Riddick/Toretto is a D&D gamer.
I don’t usually go for testosterone overdrive movies but I must admit I loved this whole series!