Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Frank Martin (Jason Statham), along with a shocked passenger, pursues an assassin. - CONTRIBUTED
IT REALLY tests the limits of the imagination that The Transporter 2 has been created. The first, though fun, had plot holes one could drive a truck through and several other problems. But it was fun. The Transporter 2 goes along the same lines.
This time around, however, director Louise Leterrierr has created an incredible movie - literally. The stunts in the flick actually test the limits of credibility. They are often unacceptably implausible. However, if one should put the brain cells on the side and simply go along for the ride, The Transporter 2 may well prove fun. The writers, Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen remain the same, and so the writing style (what little there is of it) has not changed.
In essence, The Transporter 2 is like the dumber version of Man on Fire (it has neither the grit, nor the daring, nor the sharp writing nor the good acting which marked that film). Yet, it too takes up the idea of the hardened mercenary who falls for an adorable child who is kidnapped. However, that simulacrum is as close as this movie comes to a plot. It clearly believes that a fast car can be a plausible substitute. Additionally, the acting is not great, though Jason Statham continues to make an engagingly stoic Frank Martin.
Indeed, The Transporter 2 would probably get more props as an extended advertisement for Audi, which after that turn in I-Robot is clearly becoming the car of cinematic chases. These chases are good enough; they will probably never make it to the annals of car chase history, but they are sufficient to get the adrenaline pumping.
The fight sequences are also quite good and the choreography in tight spaces generally improved over last time. The flick also owes several debts of gratitude to the Jet Li fight style. Indeed, any Jet Li fan has probably seen most of these moves before (and seen them done with better grace), but they are pretty cool to see again. However, the final stunt went too far overboard to be believable and that impacted on the film's fun power.
The Transporter 2 skids on weak characters. It's main villain, Gianni (Alessandro Gassman) seems to have watched The Matrix one time too many. He is excessively long-winded and it is high time movies stopped having the villain give away the plans. Gianni is rather unimpressive, which helps to pull much of the fun from the flick.
Lola is quite like a Bond girl on steroids. Unfortunately, no one has told her that humanity has discovered both clothing and food. Not only does the woman make a thread look overweight, but she is constantly strutting around in her lingerie. While outer wear has once again begun to resemble outer wear, this just takes it too far. Yet she is the most interesting person in the flick, with the exception of Martin.
The Transporter 2, is a movie that is action for action's sake. It will not get your brain ticking, but if one lets it, it can help adrenaline to flow.
