Transporter 2 (2005)

1.5 out of 4

Starring: Jason Statham, Amber Veletta, Matthew Modine, Alessandro Gassman, Kate Nauta, Keith David, François Berléand, Jason Flemyng, Hunter Clary

Director: Louis Leterrier

Time: 87 mins

Viewed: in home theatre

Frank the Transporter (Statham), a driver for hire who's willing to transport anything, no questions asked, returns in this high-octane sequel. This time, he's a temporary chauffeur to the son (Clary) of a rich, squabbling couple (Hitch's Veletta and Modine) in Florida, while waiting for his French cop pal (Berléand) to arrive for a vacation. When his charge gets kidnapped by a group who wants to set off a deadly virus, he takes it upon himself to pursue those responsible. Film has plenty of action and moves breezily, but preposterous stunts (with some shoddy CGI effects) and idiotic plot loses one's interest by the halfway mark. Statham is cool and charismatic, and sports some fine martial arts moves, but deserves better. Not a patch on the original, which had more, and frankly better, action.

(c) Joe Wong (22 January 2006)