Some entertaining truck stunts are the chief recommendation of “Overhaul,” a big rig racing, big-rig hijacking thriller from Brazil.

This “Around the World With Netflix” outing is a “Fast and Furious” knock-off with dull characters, generic situations and little that makes it “furious,” even when it’s “fast.”

Thiago Martins stars as Roger, a perpetual also-ran in the BR (Big Rig?) semi racing series, driving for his father’s team. He’s forever ignoring race-and-engine management advice from his mechanic, Danilo (Raphael Logam), forever flying off the handle whenever anyone — from his father to the woman (Sheron Menezzes) who is his biggest rival — who dares call him what he is.

“Brat!”

An argument with Dad directly contributes to the old man’s death in an accident. The next thing the brat figures out is that the racing team is bankrupt, the sponsors are fleeing and this shady fellow Odilon (Evandro Mesquita) is aiming to collect on some debts.

There’s nothing for it but for Roger to take on a bunch of truck-hijackings as the “pilot” of the chase and getaway semi, with his pal Danilo coming along to figure out ways to improve on this “side market” business of a “slightly illegal” nature.

Actually, it’s totally illegal and dangerous, and the cops are interested in all these trucks filled with cell phones and what-not are going.

Tomas Portell’s film — in Portugeuse or dubbed — gives us only tiny glimpses of a Brazilian underworld and a racist culture where Danilo faces more severe punishment because he’s Black. Maybe making a statement on that world in a film for the domestic market isn’t something most Brailian films do. But the memorable ones always immerse us in settings, people and the flavor of that criminal subculture.

Leandro Soares’ screenplay is strictly formula, from its first races to it’s “Who will be kidnapped the moment Roger says ‘I want out’?” third act, with dialogue just as unsurprising.

But some of the truck stunts are cool and believable.

Rating: TV-MA, violence, profanity, adult situations

Cast: Thiago Martins, Milhem Cortaz,
Raphael Logam, Sheron Menezzes, Vitoria Valentin and Evandro Mesquita

Credits: Directed by
Tomas Portella, scripted by
Leandro Soares. A Netflix release.

Running time: 1:41