Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you like the “Transporter” franchise.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Yes.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 96 minutes (~1.5 hours)
“The Transporter Refuelled” is an action movie, the fourth in the “Transporter” franchise. I’m spelling it as “The Transporter Refuelled” and not “The Transporter Refueled” in light of the fact that we use UK English here, rather than US English. However, yes, the posters all depict it as “The Transporter Refueled.” In this instalment, the Transporter teams up with dear old dad as they face off against a Russian cartel. It stars Ed Skrein (Frank Martin), Ray Stevenson (Frank Senior), Loan Chabanol (Anna), Gabriella Wright (Gina), Tatjana Pajkovic (Maria), Wenxia Yu (Qiao), and Radivoje Bukvic (Arkady Karasov). It is rated NC-16.
“The Transporter Refuelled” is more of the same “Transporter” action you’ve seen, with some recasting (most significantly, the Transporter himself) and more focus on the driving action. He is the Transporter, after all. Once again, his package turns out to be human in nature, something you’d think he would have figured out by now since it’s happened to him four times! He feels for the girl, they get their revenge, and it’s another package well transported.
But it’s still good fun to watch.
Highlights
Suave driving stunts
The driving sequences are executed well, with the right cuts to reactions shots, slo-mos at the appropriate moments, and an all-around good feel for how to create an exciting chase sequence. The new Frank Martin looks rather suave as he drives through buildings (yes), knocks open fire hydrants with razor sharp precision (yes), and glides through the air into narrow openings (yes). In short, the show lives up to its name about transporting stuff.
“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” vibe
So the Transporter’s father appears in the film as Frank Senior, and quite obviously gets involved into the mission (or crisis) of the day. It feels distinctly like Indiana Jones and his father, especially when you see their constant bickering but superb cooperation skills at play. It’s a nice touch to add to the film, and also a good failsafe if Ed Skrein couldn’t hold the show on his own – the interaction between father and son helps bring the new Transporter into his own as a more sensitive, hipster kind of Transporter (as opposed to Jason Statham’s gruff, moody thug). However, the Transporter could have carried the show on his own without it, making this a nice bonus rather than a critical addition.
Letdowns
The three female protagonists are indistinguishable from each other
Anna, Gina, and Maria are already difficult to tell apart. When they intentionally dress alike, which they do quite often in the film, it’s a nightmare to tell them apart. Then again, their characters aren’t that deep either, so it’s not a terrible issue. It’s just that it would have been nice to have some female protagonists who aren’t there just as eye candy.
Ed Skrein has too small a build for the Transporter
As skilled and agile as Ed Skrein is, he just doesn’t have an imposing enough build as the Transporter. He’s got the height, but girth-wise he doesn’t carry the sort of presence that Jason Statham used to. Perhaps we were too used to the big lumbering lug of a Transporter in the previous three movies, so this new one takes getting used to. But for now, it looks like the Transporter isn’t as menacing as he used to be.
Not enough fighting
There’s a good deal of driving scenes here, more so than in the previous instalment. But that means there’s significantly less melee combat, which is a pity. I did come to watch the Transporter mash heads in, and I didn’t get quite enough of that in the film.
“The Transporter Refuelled” is a good addition to the “Transporter” franchise, and it’s interesting discovering the quirks and foibles of the new Transporter.
“The Transporter Refuelled” opens in cinemas 10 September, 2015.
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