90s style action in the 00s

Rating: 8/10 (25 March 2019)

'The Transporter' may not be Jason Statham's introduction into the world of on-screen action heroes, but it was certainly the film that cemented his potential as more of an 'old school' tough guy. Since the early 2000s, action films developed a severe case of over-seriousness. Gone were the days of witty quips and wry smiles of the Arnie and Stallone era, replaced with grim protagonists and gritty surroundings.
That's why 'The Transporter' is so great. It totally knows what it is, i.e. big, dumb fun that's only trying to entertain, rather than deliver any sort of 'message.' Jason Statham plays 'Frank' an ex American marine with possibly the most 'questionable' American accent ever (seriously, it flits between London and New York approximately ever other word!). He specialises in driving for a living, or rather driving anything illegal from point A to point B in a severe hurry.
However, his professional attitude to his work is severely tested when he begrudgingly opens the boot of his car during a job, only to find a young Chinese girl tied up in there. Naturally, his conscious is tested and it's up to him whether to deliver this girl to her - obvious - fate, or help her out. Luckily for her, she's quite pretty and therefore makes up the perfect love interest to our bald, rugged anti-hero.
I would probably say that there's zero original content in this film. If you've watched enough action films then you've pretty much seen everything here and possibly done better. However, that isn't really too much of a criticism as 'The Transporter' is just such damn good fun. It has good looking heroes, evil dastardly villains, beautiful locations, great action and punch-ups. But, most of all, it never takes itself seriously in the same way as the 'pre-Craig' Bond movies did.
And, if all that isn't enough to get you sit down and watch it - for the ladies - you get one hell of a look at a totally oiled-up Jason Statham, beating one goon after the other while he slips, slides and slaps his way through the bad guys - all gooey and topless. Obviously, I was just there for the action. Obviously.