The "Transporter" series proved how compelling action films can be by creating an interesting but irregular hero like Frank Martin. Martin leads an orderly, well-planned life. He is fastidious and uncompromising, trying to run his business of transporting illicit content by his three rules: Never deviate from the plan, never use names and never look in the package. The original film, and to some extent the sequel, provided a protagonist who would defy expectations but ultimately do the right thing. The most disappointing aspect of "Transporter 3" is that the hero is neutered by the plot, constantly breaking his three rules and doing exactly what is expected of him.
The British action star Jason Statham plays Martin, the transporter. Martin and his friend Inspector Tarconi (Francois Berleand) are fishing when they learn of a car chase in Marseilles. Martin returns to his home while Tarconi investigates. The problem leads directly to Martin's front door, as a friend is implicated in the high speed chase. Soon Martin is stuck in the same situation as his friend, needing to do a transportation job which he originally turned down. Accompanied by a mysterious female stranger and shackled with explosive bands which do not allow him to go beyond 75 feet of the vehicle, Frank must rely on his driving skills and his quick thinking to survive.
Statham can do incredible fighting stunts, showing an unexpected gracefulness in someone his size. Corey Yuen, the director and stunt coordinator of the beautifully-rendered, adrenaline-pumping first film, showed an uncanny ability to capture all the action. The director of "Transporter 3" relies too much on quick-cut editing, making the action scenes harder to follow and appreciate. More troubling is the unnecessarily elaborate plot which involves some sort of ecological threat perpetrated by a corporation. The first two films managed to find something besides Martin's self preservation to compel the viewer to root for the hero. The environmental baddies are too esoteric to provide an interesting motivation for the viewer.
While Martin basically continues to be the same man, the story forces him into situations where the outcome is inevitable. Frank is more controlled by the situation than the situation is controlled by him. This reversal makes the story predictable and causes the hero to be at its mercy. The introduction of another romantic interest in the guise of a sullen, spoiled Ukrainian girl proves too much for an already teetering storyline. Since she isn't sweet, funny or tough, she lends nothing to the experience except distracting Frank with her annoying banter. While "Transporter 3" has a few fun action set pieces, overall the series appears to have run its last mile. Instead, check out Statham in the far superior "The Bank Job," a British caper film based on a true story.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence, some sexual content and drug material.
