ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

Faster, slicker and, yes, even dumber than its predecessor, Transporter 2 is trash. But at least it's enjoyable trash, producer Luc Besson ensuring the first instalment's sub-Bondian combo of screeching tyres, outlandish action and bruising martial arts is religiously maintained. Jason Statham's back behind the wheel as mercenary-cum-chauffeur Frank Martin, this time embroiled in a barking conspiracy involving a kidnapped kid and a lethal virus. Undemanding punters are guaranteed 90 minutes of dopey, derivative and gloriously disposable entertainment.

Swapping the original's south of France for sunny Miami, Louis Leterrier's follow-up opens with taciturn Frank filling in as driver/bodyguard for the son of a US drug czar (Matthew Modine). Before you can say Man On Fire, however, said child is abducted by a Colombian coke baron (Alessandro Gassman) and injected with a deadly serum that will poison everyone he comes into contact with.

Having bonded with the boy and his beautiful mother (Amber Valletta), our hero is understandably peeved. But can he save the lad, secure the antidote and still find time to knock seven bells out of the bad guy's army of goons?

"LAD-MAG EXUBERANCE"

Any film where the hero chases a bus on a jet-ski or boards a plane mid-takeoff via its undercarriage is clearly not to be taken seriously. And while Besson's lad-mag exuberance sometimes gets the better of him - Statham is stalked by a pistol-packing supervixen with a penchant for shooting people in her underwear - you'll be having far too much fun to care.