Transporter 3 (2008) Lionsgate/Action RT: 104 minutes Rated PG-13 (sequences of intense action and violence, some sexual content, drug material) Director: Olivier Megaton Screenplay: Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen Music: Alexandre Azaria Cinematography: Giovanni Fiore Coltellacci Release date: November 26, 2008 (US) Cast: Jason Statham, Natalya Rudakova, Francois Berleand, Robert Knepper, Jeroen Krabbe, Alex Kobold, David Atrakchi, Yann Sundberg, Eriq Ebouaney. Box Office: $31.7M (US)/$106.2M (World)
Rating: ** ½
It would be unfair to say that the Transporter franchise has completely run out of gas with this third installment, but Transporter 3 definitely sputters and chugs a lot along the way. It’s still a lot of fun even if it is a step or two down from the first two movies. Even though it retains the European flavor of its predecessors, it feels rather generic with its CGI-enhanced fight sequences made barely comprehensible by the choppy editing. How is this any different from the assembly line American-made action movies that normally play in multiplexes? At least the plot kind of makes sense. No wait, let me revise that. It’s no more nonsensical than any other action flick. But who goes to a movie like Transporter 3 expecting anything other than a mindlessly entertaining actioner featuring a bad ass hero, one-against-many fights and physics-defying stunts? Not many, I would imagine.
Jason Statham reprises his role as Frank Martin, the “transporter” of the title. He’s back in France and back on the job, but not by his own choice. His latest “employer”, Johnson (Knepper, Hitman), needs him to deliver a “package” to an unknown destination. Frank turned down the job before, but the guy he recommended for it didn’t work out. Johnson’s thugs kidnap Frank and make it clear that he must accept the job. He’s outfitted with a bracelet set to explode if he gets more than 75 feet from his car. He also has a passenger, a Ukrainian woman named Valentina (Rudakova), also wearing an explosive bracelet. It all has to do with a Ukrainian official (Krabbe, The Living Daylights) being forced to sign an agreement with crooked outfit Ecocorp that would allow their ships to bring in several barrels of toxic chemicals. In between the many chases and fights, Frank starts to fall for Valentina.
Rudakova isn’t conventionally beautiful like the blonde bombshells that ordinarily appear in movies like this. You don’t often see lead actresses with red hair and freckles. Her unique looks grow on you; her acting skills are another matter entirely. She can’t act. According to Wikipedia, co-writer Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita) spotted her on the street in New York on her way to work at a hair salon. He paid for 25 acting lessons before giving her the part. He should demand a refund. You can tell that English is a new thing for Rudakova, her line readings sound phonetic and without affect. Lines like, “I want to feel the sex one more time before I die” come off as unintentionally hilarious. Her character is initially annoying, but you get used to her after a while. The romance that develops between Valentina and Frank, who violated one of his key rules by asking her name, feels forced.
Statham, on the other hand, kicks ass a third time. As usual, his pal Inspector Tarconi (Berleand) is on hand to offer assistance as needed. This time, Frank really needs his help. There’s no way to dismantle the bracelet or contact anyone other than Johnson. Plotwise, Transporter 3 is no big deal. The explosive bracelet plot device is reminiscent of Speed. It does, however, have a couple of cool “YEAH, RIGHT!” moments. The first is when Frank tilts his car on two wheels and drives between two tractor-trailer trucks. The other is when he drives his car into a train car; that is, after he first drives on top of the train.
Director Olivier Megaton (Taken 2 & 3) keeps Transporter 3 moving at a fairly rapid clip. It feels a bit dragged out at 104 minutes. The important thing is that it delivers in all the areas crucial to an effective action flick. Statham is an awesome tough guy. There’s plenty of action, car chases, violence and general vehicular mayhem. It’s just not as satisfying as the previous two installments. You won’t mind watching it, but you can’t help but wonder if the trip is really necessary.
