The Transporter 2

Starring: Jason Statham, Alessandro Gassman, Amber Valleta
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Running Time: 88 Minutes
Rated: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action, sexual content, partial nudity and crude language. Delivers Just Like the First!

Too bad that's not saying a lot. If you saw the first Transporter which was released in 2002 (I admit I did) you were probably as surprised as I was that they decided to make a sequel. I guess it must have been a big hit somewhere because that original movie wasn't all that great.

Well the makers of that movie have come back to make a sequel that, unfortunately, is not all that good either, but on the bright side is actually a little better than the first. Statham plays Frank Martin, an ex super duper soldier (really who isn't now-a-days?) who makes a living as a driver for get-aways and deliveries. Somehow Frank finds himself driving the son of a prominent politician back and forth to school. Why he gets hired instead of the politician's security staff we'll never know.

Of course the son is adorable and the bad guys show up to start causing their usual mayhem, which naturally involves said adorable boy. Following the ex super duper soldier code Frank must now risk it all to save the boy. Along the way he must fight the usual assortment of bad guys, all the while making sure he doesn't scratch his car, a black Audi sedan which takes product placement to new heights.

Statham does his usual silent but deadly thing here. He hasn't really "acted" much in a movie since Snatch (a great movie by the way). Instead, he just plays it cool during the entire movie, whether he's being shot at, being chased, reading a magazine etc etc. He's credible action star though and handles the fighting and chase sequences well.

Director Leterrier directs the movie like a 10 year old boy however. On the plus it makes for a short, zippy movie. On the negative it brings out all the typical action movie cliches plus some truly outrageous scenes that only a kid could appreciate. Leterrier was trying to get a "wow" out of the audience but during the screening all he got were giggles. Take away some of the bizarre stunts and you are left with typical action movie stuff. The fight scenes are good but not memorable.

The rest of the cast coasts along in the film and do what they can with the minimal script. Only Matthew Modine does a truly horrible job as the screechy politician. This is definitely one you can save as a rental for a slow weekend.

2.5 out of 5 stars.
© 2005 Review by Son Tran