<P> 2 Fast 2 Furious (alternatively known as The Fast and the Furious 2) is a 2003 American action film directed by John Singleton, produced by Neal H. Moritz and written by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas . It is the second installment in The Fast and the Furious franchise, and a sequel to The Fast and the Furious (2001). The film stars Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Eva Mendes, and Cole Hauser . The film follows former cop Brian O'Conner, who teams up with Roman Pearce and U.S. Customs Service agent Monica Fuentes to bring down drug lord Carter Verone . </P> <P> 2 Fast 2 Furious marks the only film in the franchise not to feature Vin Diesel, who rejected the project in order to star in xXx (2002). The film saw a majority of shooting being done on location in Miami, and was released on June 6, 2003, grossing over $236 million worldwide from an estimated $76 million budget . The film was followed by The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006 . </P> <P> After letting Dominic Toretto escape from the authorities, Brian O'Conner relocates from Los Angeles to Miami and makes a living by participating in illegal street races . Tej Parker organizes a local street race, involving Suki, Orange Julius, and Slap Jack, however, the race lacks a fourth driver . Tej calls Brian, who agrees to be the fourth needed for the race . Brian wins, giving a few thousand of his winnings to Tej to show his gratitude . The police then arrive, forcing all the racers to flee . Watched by undercover U.S. Customs Service agent Monica Fuentes, Brian is caught by the agents . He is taken into custody, but given a deal by his former boss, FBI agent Bilkins, and Customs agent Markham, to go undercover and bring down Argentinian drug lord, Carter Verone in exchange for the erasure of his criminal record . Brian agrees, but only if he is given permission to choose his own partner . This prompts him to travel to Barstow, California, where he enlists the help of Roman Pearce, his childhood friend who served jail time for housing stolen cars in a garage . Roman, currently on parole, blames Brian for his arrest, but reluctantly agrees to help, but only for the same deal Brian was offered . Roman and Brian are later hired by Verone, who tasks the duo to obtain a package from a confiscated car located in a lot . Markham, who mistakenly thinks that the duo are trying to run away, follows them to the lot . However, Roman relents, and shoots at Markham to help maintain his cover . He later confronts him for interference with the mission . Brian is able to gain knowledge of the plan, however, and tells Bilkins that Verone is reportedly aiming to launder his money in Miami, before escaping on his private jet . </P> <P> Later, the team challenges a pair of muscle car drivers they raced when competing for Verone's hiring, for pink slips . Despite engine and power output handicaps, Brian and Roman manage to win the race and the other two cars . Meanwhile, Roman confronts Brian about his attraction to Monica and the constant threat of Verone's men . However, the two men patch up their differences, and focus on completing the mission . </P>

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