Another Sequel That Doesn't Quite Equal... "Transporter 2"

This time it's personal...

The Story:

Frank Martin (Jason Statham) does a friend a favor and takes a gig in Miami to chauffer the child (Hunter Clary) of a high powered businessman...official... (Matthew Modine) did they ever really say? And his wife (Amber Valletta).  Well, when the little boy gets kidnapped, the dad thinks Frank is on it, but Frank isn't.  He's being duped by a bad guy (Alessandro Gassman) who has bigger plans than just a kidnapping.  Can Frank save the day?

You know it!

Ah Frank, it was too good to last.  The complicated family story sort of bogs down the sequel to the Transporter.  It opens up great enough with Frank getting in the now famous "Transporter Fight Circle", as I like to call it.  A staple of the now-franchise film, the bad guys will circle Frank, who will then proceed to beat them senseless, usually by first calmly removing his jacket.

Other trappings of the franchise will include Frank losing his shirt for at least one fight scene.  This is apparently to give some eye candy to the ladies who have accompanied their dates to see this non-chick flick film. 

: )

Due to the kidnapping though, this film takes on a slightly different feel than the first one.  Yes, we had someone in peril for Frank to rescue, but it all plays out differently this go-round. It could be that there's a little boy in trouble this time versus a girl.  Maybe that no sparks can fly for poor Frank?

Maybe it's due to Lola (Kate Nauta) who is trying to hard to be Milla Jojovich, and failing miserably?

Needless to say, Frank is going to set things right, save the day, and bring the boy home.

Good job Frank!

Thankfully, the Inspector (Francois Berleand) shows up in Miami for a mini-vacation for some comic relief, and a little hand-lending for Frank as he works to save the day.

Like many sequels, it cannot recreate the magic of the first one by trying a little too hard to recapture lightning in a bottle instead of just trying to tell a good story.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Watched it again for the first time in ages... not bad... I might pick it up in the future.