Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Review—Universal’s 112-MPH Roller Coaster Is Pure Adrenaline

Towards the end of my student years, I had a not-so-secret crush on someone. She and I carried on a light flirtation, hinting that we might eventually become more than friends. But I didn’t know until she found out that I had never seen Fast & Furious that she was willing to give me a chance.

“What?!” she screamed. “It’s my favorite movie!” So we made plans to watch it in her dorm the next day. Even if I didn’t like it, I reasoned, the experience would be a worthwhile subversion of the trope of men forcing their girlfriends to watch testosterone-soaked action movies. I’ll spare you the details of what happened that afternoon, but it may come as no surprise that I gave the movie a glowing five-star review.

Fast & Furious Celebrates Cars, Speed and “Family”

Twenty-five years have passed since the series launched. F&F has capitalized heavily on that runaway enthusiasm. The big, bald, sleeveless blockbuster franchise has become a monument to America’s car culture, product placement—Corona, anyone?—and vaguely defined “family” ties, pronounced “family.”

Inflated with high-octane set pieces that defy all known physics, substandard acting and a monotonous storyline, the movies invite us to submit to the reptilian part of our brains that cares only about power and speed.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Ride Details

That’s why the series was the ideal inspiration for Universal Studios Hollywood’s new foray into cutting-edge outdoor roller coasters. The long-awaited Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift opens to the public on Wednesday, giving parkgoers the chance to ride replicas of the movies’ muscle cars, including Dom Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger R/T.

The attraction reaches speeds of up to 112 mph across a 4,000-foot track. Another version of the ride is scheduled to debut at Universal’s Florida park next year.

Hollywood Drift Is Fast, Loud and Surprisingly Fun

The day before the public opening, selected media members and content creators had the opportunity to experience the attraction without waiting in line. I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint.

I rode it three times in a row and could have ridden it more. Four launch sections and three corkscrew reversals create an intense adrenaline rush, further enhanced by motor noise from speakers mounted in each seat.

Dom’s lead vehicle can also detect braking resistance when sliding into a drift. I screamed with glee during each circuit, occasionally shouting “Toluca Lake,” the name of the wealthy neighborhood next door. Residents are reportedly angry about the noise and all the cries.