For those seeking a perfect excuse for a cosy film night, look no further than your television tonight. Film4 is broadcasting a quintessential Jason Statham action movie that promises to deliver high-octane entertainment without demanding too much brainpower.
The film in question is Transporter 2, the gloriously over-the-top 2005 sequel that solidified the British tough guy's reputation for on-screen mayhem. It's the ideal choice for an evening of popcorn-munching fun.
What's Transporter 2 About?
Statham reprises his role as Frank Martin, a former special-ops agent who now works as a professional driver for hire. This time, his assignment seems straightforward: chauffeur the young son of a politician. However, the job takes a dangerous turn when the boy, Jack, is kidnapped.
The plot quickly escalates into a race against time, as Frank discovers the kidnappers are threatening to release a deadly virus. It's up to him to rescue the child and find an antidote before it's too late.
A Rollercoaster of Action and Reception
True to form for a Statham vehicle, Transporter 2 is packed with outlandish set pieces. Audiences are treated to a series of impossible stunts, including a jet ski launching onto a highway and a daring leap into a moving school bus. The film also features bizarre yet creative weaponry, ensuring the action never has a dull moment.
By box office standards, the film was a clear success. It was made on a budget of $32 million and grossed a substantial $89.1 million worldwide.
However, its critical reception was mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 52% score from critics. Audiences were slightly more generous, giving it a 58% on the Popcornmeter. This divide highlights the film's status as a quintessential 'guilty pleasure'.
One fan on the review site admitted, "One of my biggest guilty pleasure films. Obviously The Transporter 2 isn't gonna win any awards for creativity or story but it's still a damn entertaining action film." Another five-star review praised the "action sequences and the car chases that make TRANSPORTER 2 a feel good movie for every action movie fan."
Not all feedback was positive, though. Some critics called out the film's lack of realism and lazy writing, with one reviewer awarding it just one-and-a-half stars for its "impossible car flips" and "bullet dodging which made no sense at all."
The Legacy of the Transporter
Transporter 2 is the sequel to the 2002 film The Transporter, which originally kickstarted Statham's leading man career in action cinema. Interestingly, the original film holds a marginally higher Rotten Tomatoes score of 53%, though both are beloved by fans for their stylish, no-nonsense approach to the genre.
Don't miss this action-packed joyride. Transporter 2 is on Film4 at 9pm on Wednesday, November 26.
