The Transporter Review
Cool, kinetic, and supremely self-assured, this compact little action flick moves far too quickly to sink under the weight of its plot holes and occasional pretensions. Although clearly indebted to writer/producer Luc_Besson's previous exercises in Gallic underworld glamour, The Transporter perfectly balances the contributions of co-directors Corey_Yuen and Louis_Leterrier. Yuen, a Hong Kong vet with a several American fight-choreography credits under his belt, turns in some breathless action set pieces whose grace and economy seem miles away from the blustery Michael_Bay school of excess. Leterrier, meanwhile, presumably deserves credit for eliciting such wry humor and genre-defying humanity from the performers. Freed from the cocky, talky constraints of Guy_Ritchie's world, star Jason_Statham exudes coiled tension underneath his controlled exterior. The tale of an underworld courier's crisis of conscience could too easily slip into mawkish self-parody, but Statham's less-is-more approach lends the scenario an undeniable authenticity; this man, rather than Vin_Diesel or The_Rock, should be the model for tomorrow's action hero. It helps that Shu_Qi makes such a credible combination of victim, femme fatale, and witty foil. After a twisted "meet cute" silly enough to satisfy the most rabid romantic comedy fan, Qi and Statham settle into a delicious chemistry that survives several unlikely plot twists. François_Berléand's role as a wise, wary police detective proves problematic, but he and Statham wring as much dramatic frisson as possible from their frequent, pseudo-philosophical tête-à-têtes. Matt_Schulze's double-crossing villain is strictly pro forma, but fans of television's Alias will not be surprised to learn that Ric_Young achieves an effortless air of smug menace as the imposing and ultimately cold-blooded Mr. Kwai. The Transporter may have failed to cross over at the American box office the way Besson's and Statham's previous efforts did, but it's an unassuming delight in a genre fraught with loud, showy duds. Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
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