TRANSPORTER 2

France/US, 2005, 88 minutes, Colour.
Jason Statham, Alessandro Gassman, Amber Valetta, Matthew Modine, Jason Flemyng, Keith David.
Directed by Louis Letterier.

This is one of those slambang action films – like The Transporter in fact! – which reviewers all bemoan. Not another explosion! Which action fans love. Good, another explosion! Which makes one feel guilty for enjoying this one (that is, for those who do, as I did).

Jason Statham (former Olympic diver) has found a niche in action films, especially those of Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and, in a more serious role, Revolver) as well as films like The Transporter and Cellular. He is fairly solid and stolid and with limited expressions. However, this can suit an audience as they read into him what his character might be thinking. And, in this one, he wears a coat and tie all the time, though when one coat is dragged off him in a fight, he finds a replacement. In this, he belongs to the James Bond school of action hero. And, of course, he can drive faster, more skilfully and weavingly than anyone else.

Plot does not really matter although it concerns the abduction of the son of the too-busy director of the DEA, his rescue and a sub-plot about a virus that can kill of a conference room full of VIPs within hours.
Written by Luc Besson (who really should be writing classier material but obviously enjoys this), directed by Louis Letterier (who directed the ugly Unleashed), it need not be on anybody’s must see list. But it was brashly entertaining while it was on screen.

1.The popularity of the Transporter series? The action films of Luc Besson and Louis Letterier? Popcorn action films? Jason Statham as the star?

2.The transition of the Transporter from France to Miami? The Miami settings, wealthy homes, businesses, yachts? The range of aerial shots? The special effects, the action and stunts for chases? The musical score?

3.Frank Martin and his character established in Transporter? His work in France? The transition to the United States? His British background? His being employed to get the boy from school? The appointment with the doctor? The abduction of the boy? The confrontation with the thugs, the fight sequences?

4.Audrey, Jefferson, their discussion? The role of Jefferson in drug enforcement?

5.The doctor’s office, the thugs, medical staff disguises, giving the boy the injection, the infectious virus?

6.The gangsters, Frank and the bomb with his car? The spectacular disengagement of the bomb and the movement of the car through the air?

7.The ransom, five million dollars? The parents, their response, getting the money? The boy and his family?

8.Jefferson, the conference, the officials, the plan that he will spread the virus, the virus coming from his son?

9.The importance of the antidote, Frank and his search for the antidote – and the threat to all the drug enforcement leaders?

10.The personality of Gianni, the leader of the drug cartel, his injecting the antidote into himself?

11.Inspector Tarconi, his being on holidays in Miami, Frank and the collaboration with the inspector? The pursuit of Gianni? The plane, the crash?

12.Frank, mission achieved, getting the antidote? The happy and safe ending?

13.An entertainment matinee action film? How realistic? How farfetched in its conspiracy theory? How farfetched in its hero resolving the problems?