By: Aaron Vasquez
Paul Walker was the king of popcorn flicks, the raging everyman who made action movies where audiences can watch something mindless.
Maybe none of his movies will be studied in film classes years from now, but his legacy will long resonate with those looking for something entertaining to rent at a Redbox kiosk.
Like a modern-day Steve McQueen, he was a teen heartthrob with a penchant for fast cars, faster women and the fastest action movie clichés known to mankind.
Walker’s films, which often had unintentionally hilarious dialogue and next to no plot, wouldn’t dare compare itself to a Schindler’s List.
They were fast and furious, and should be enjoyed with pizza, beer and a riff at all the ridiculous explosions that happen every other second.
Two types of people enjoyed Walker’s genre of films: the bro-culture jock who high fives his best friend after a car chase and the ironic hipster who steps into the theater to make a snide comment and groan for each campy one liner.
His flicks were drinking games waiting to happen. Eight Below, Running Scared and Joy Ride all received lukewarm reviews by critics, but could be enjoyed as an escapist fantasy from a dull life.
In a way, Walker upheld the standard for the action heroes of today.
He was the prototypical action star in the age of video games.
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