Ludicrous sequel that sees the return of bullet dodging mercenary turned professional driver Frank Martin (Statham).
Worn out from his exploits in the first film (and presumably in need of a new house after his French pad was blown up) Frank has moved to Miami and taken a much more relaxed job as the chauffeur for a government policymaker (Modine) and his family.
He now spends his days ferrying six year old Jack (Clary) back and forth from school, in between making up gormless riddles about potatoes and the moon.
This all changes though when Jack gets kidnapped by a machine gun wielding dominatrix and injected with a virus that will wipe out half of the country in four hours unless poor old Frank can find the antidote.
They say:
Total Film: “Stupidest movie of the year? Quite probably. But we're betting you'll see it ahead of the next Jim Jarmusch film.”
Guardian: “There has been a forest of upturned critical noses at this crash bang sequel to Luc Besson's Euro-action flick Transporter. But it's perfectly serviceable entertainment.”
Empire: “Another all kicking, punching, shooting and exploding dose of Besson born action, and Jason Statham proves that his action mettle in the first instalment was no fluke.”
We say:
Ex-military man Frank repeatedly tells us that he “lives by the rules”, although this doesn’t include the rules of gravity it seems as he leaps out of a fifth floor window onto a moving car and walks away without a scratch.
Writer / producer Luc Besson has come up with another truly ridiculous high kicking action adventure that, try as you might, is impossible to dislike.
Much credit for this must go to Statham, whose cheesy deadpan humour and powerful athleticism make Frank a thoroughly loveable hero.
The relocation from France to Miami is a mistake however, as the Gallic setting was one of the main selling points of the original, and director Louis LeTerrier struggles to match the brilliantly choreographed oil slick punch up from his last outing.
In fact, when Frank dispatches four assailants into a wheelie bin during one of his many dust ups he sums up the mood perfectly - this is all a bit rubbish.
Also, for a man who clearly doesn’t own a razor it is ironic that he gets into more close shaves in 85 minutes than most action heroes do in a lifetime.
CAST
Jason Statham, Matthew Modine, Amber Valletta, Jason Flemyng, Alessandro Gassman, Kate Nauta, Shannon Briggs, Hunter Clary
DIRECTOR
Louis Leterrier
TIME
87 mins
POSTED...
Thu 30 Mar 2006 at 6:38pm
