In these troubling times, it’s nice to know that an interquel movie about street racing can make a bajillion dollars at the box office. With a rating of 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, Fast & Furious has still managed to bring in no less than $72.5 million - more than the second film in the series, Tokyo Drift, made in its entire run.

Is it possible that Fast & Furious has discovered the magical formula that will allow the film industry to survive in these belt-tightening times? If only we could figure out exactly what it is. Established franchise? Vin Diesel? About ten minutes of Michelle Rodriguez? Lines like “I appreciate a fine body, regardless of the make?”

It’s hard to get outraged about subpar, mindless films scoring big at the box office. After all, The Dark Knight did pretty well too. Maybe an established franchise is really the secret - especially now, when people want to be reminded of happier times and movies they used to enjoy, back when the bursting of the real estate bubble was still a distant possibility.

Nostalgia has to be a factor. That warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you recognize a callback to the past is even stronger when the past sucked so much less than right now. The carefree world of illegal street racing and drug smuggling and truck hijacking has never looked so appealing as it does now, with unemployment at record highs. You just don’t picture Vin Diesel fretting over his mortgage payments or wondering if he’ll be affected by the latest truck-hijacking job cuts. You don’t really picture him fretting over much of anything. What does he have to fret about? He’s got forearm muscles.

When I started writing this, I was feeling disdainful towards “Fast & Furious,” but now I’ve almost talked myself into wanting to see it. I’m starting to think I could enjoy escaping into a glamorous and dangerous world of flaming semi-trucks and hot girls.

Fair enough, Hollywood.

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