Arts & Entertainment.

Diesel's 'Man Apart' has no fuel

Leslie A. Smith
The Daily Cougar

After two years of filming, New Line Cinema is releasing Vin Dieselis drama debut, A Man Apart. Hold the phone ­ did we just say "drama?" Yes, boys and girls, thatis what the trailer is trying to sell. But donit be fooled. The filmis a shoot-and-miss effort that could have had some serious potential. 

Rico Torres/New Line Productions

The basic plot line is the too-typical story of boys from the street. Sean Vetter (Diesel) and his best friend and partner, Demetrius Hicks (Larenz Tate), are Drug Enforcement Administration agents trying to catch drug lords smuggling crack through the U.S.-Mexico border.

The scenario plays out like a bunch of children playing cops and robbers with some sentimentality thrown into the mix: Vetter and Hicks catch the big Baja drug cartel at a ­ go figure ­ "classy" topless club in Mexico, then head back to California to celebrate at Vetteris pad for an all-night party.

The funny thing about this scene is that his house is on a Malibu beachfront property. What kind of DEA agent could afford a place like that? Thatis only the first reality check in the movie.

During the house scene, the audience is subjected to one too many shots of the overdone, lovey-dovey transactions between Vetter and his wife.

Meanwhile, an elusive new drug lord who goes by the name Diablo, takes over the old crack pipeline and starts some violent killing sprees and bloody hijackings.

The night after the party, someone makes an attempt on Vetteris life. Lo and behold, it goes awry and instead kills his wife. This scene was one of the most moving and believable scenes of the movie. Diesel does a fabulous job in the one drama scene worth mentioning. 

From here on out, itis self-evident what happens: Vetter turns into a grief-stricken, angry husband whose one thought is to avenge his wifeis murder. Thanks to his hair-trigger temper, he steps out of line one too many times and gets suspended. This forces him to call on his old pals from "the ihood" to help him with his quest for justice.

In true Diesel fashion, the rest of the movie is rife with shootouts, high-speed stunts and little dialogue. On the up side, the ending offers a cool, oh-my-God moment.

Diesel is not breaking any new ground with this one. It was a good try, and girls will probably describe it as his best movie ever after being blinded by the muscles and good looks. 

A Man Apart

Rated: R

Starring: Vin Diesel, Larenz Tate

New Line Cinema

The verdict: Diesel has taken the place in the action genre once occupied by Schwarzenegger and Seagal.

. Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu