“Who would want you this dead?” —Inspector Tarconi
Today’s quick review: The Transporter. Frank Martin (Jason Statham), an elite driver for hire, breaks his own rules when he opens the package he is delivering to his latest client (Matt Schulze). Inside he finds Lai (Shu Qi), a kidnapped woman caught up in a criminal operation. When Frank’s client turns on him for knowing too much, Frank is forced to fight back, protecting Lai and himself from the men sent to kill them.
The Transporter is an action movie starring Jason Statham. The movie represents the genre at its purest: a lone hero with military training, a premise that guarantees car chases, and a story that puts Frank on a collision course with an army of thugs. The Transporter excels at these fundamentals. Statham makes for a great lead, Frank Martin is an effective antihero, and the action covers a nice range of car chases, gunplay, and martial arts.
However, The Transporter does have a few rough edges. True to the genre, the plot is fairly thin, and the movie takes a long time to reveal exactly what Frank has gotten involved in. Lai works well enough as a comedic foil to Frank, as well as his moral compass, but their personal chemistry is lacking. The Transporter can also be a little clumsy as it moves from one stage of the plot to the next.
None of these flaws get in the way of The Transporter’s main appeal. Action fans will find it to be a fun popcorn watch, one with good fundamentals and just enough of its own identity. How it stacks up against the competition will come down to taste, but anyone in the mood for some light action should give The Transporter a shot.
For another action movie starring Jason Statham, try The Mechanic, Safe, or the Expendables trilogy. For one with Statham behind the wheel, try Death Race or the Fast & Furious franchise. For a sharper, more stylized action movie about a dangerous man pushed too far, try John Wick and its sequels. For another action movie about an uncharacteristic act of mercy by a criminal, try Hitman or Bangkok Dangerous.
[6.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293662/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for entertaining stunts and a strong lead.