Like the film which wastes no time in picking up where Transporter left off, Jason Statham wastes no time beginning this wildly over-the-top action flick. The first fight comes within minutes of the credits, and the rapid-fire plot development is there to give something to the action (and nothing more). The action is more intense, and it makes this sequel a cut above the first.
For those who haven’t seen Transporter, you’ll be given the Cliffs Notes on Statham’s character, Frank Martin. Other characters aren’t even introduced, but tossed into the story to connect the films. The loose carryover means little time is spent reminiscing, and more time is spent blowing things up.
Sheer evil is brought out by Kate Nauta, a sexy assassin trying to kill Martin at every turn. Her evil stares, priceless one-liners, and lack of clothes give the film a hilarious, cornball edge that makes it fun. Alessandro Gassmann can’t compete as her husband, who doesn’t have the same level of cold-heartedness.
The story of a basic kidnapping/ransom is one that’s been told thousands of times, yet it’s never been told in a movie containing a fight involving a fire hose. The stunt work here is insane, including a finale on a crashing jet liner that is as ridiculously over the top as it is brain-dead enjoyment. Car chases are intense, a jet ski ride is unforgettable, and the doctor’s office rumble is simply spectacular fun. Special effects are either intentionally terrible or it’s a budget issue. Either way, it adds to the charm.
Nothing here is Oscar-worthy, and no one in their right mind will believe anything that happens here is actually plausible. To believe either of those things should be associated with Transporter 2 is missing the point. This is a near parody of the action genre, but maintains everything that is so absurdly enjoyable about it. The energy here eclipses the original, and makes it a better film as a whole. [xrr rating=4/5 label=Movie]
Transporting (heh) to Blu-ray with a MPEG-2 transfer, this is a high-end disc. Color filters used on the film give the movie a blistering tone that in close-ups provides an array of depth and contrast. Detail is simply outstanding, and the deep, rich black levels are awe-inspiring. Those oh-so-wonderful colors do cause problems during some long shots however, with shimmering and bleeding evident. These moments are rare, yet noticeable. Contrast runs hot intentionally, but only occasionally blots out fine detail. [xrr rating=4/5 label=Video]
DTS-HD leads a powerful, immersive audio charge. Bullets are tracked through the sound field, and the bass is powerful. Rear speaker usage is common, noticeable, and immersive. Explosions deliver a heavy punch. Ambient noise is minor during non-action scenes, but a pleasant addition. [xrr rating=4/5 label=Audio]
Like trailers? Fox hopes you do as those will be the only extras you’re given. [xrr rating=1/5 label=Extras]
Matt Paprocki
Matt Paprocki has critiqued home media and video games for 20 years across outlets like Washington Post, Variety, Rolling Stone, Forbes, IGN, Playboy, Polygon, Ars, and others. His current passion project is the technically minded DoBlu.com. You can read Matt's body of work via his personal WordPress blog, and follow him on Twitter @Matt_Paprocki.