Transporter 3 (Two-Disc Edition)

TRANSPORTER 3 (SPECIAL EDITION) - DVD Movie

Trying to get out but regretfully pulled back in, uber-driver Frank Martin (Jason Statham), in his third misadventure in the Transporter series, eschews retirement to hit the road again--but under unique duress. Frank's services as a wheel man are wanted by a pathological villain, Johnson (Robert Knepper), who pressures him to drive Valentina (Natalya Rudakova), the party-girl daughter of a Ukrainian official (Jeroen Krabbé), across Eastern Europe as part of an environmentally-unfriendly blackmail scheme. The story's gimmick is that Johnson outfits Frank and Valentina with wrist bracelet bombs that will go off if either of them gets more than 75 feet away from the car.

That limitation sets up several enjoyable suspense sequences, including a complicated chase after Frank's car is stolen, forcing him to keep up with the speeding vehicle via a bicycle. Car stunts, no surprise, are plentiful, capped by a breathtaking scene in which Frank drives atop a speeding train. Obligatory fight scenes are no less imaginative, involving numerous confrontations between the hero and a lot of very big bad guys, occasionally using articles of Frank's clothes as unexpected weapons. The script, co-written by the estimable French director Luc Besson (The Professional), has its flaws, such as an awkward striptease by Frank in order to secure the impulsive Valentina's cooperation. But overall, this is a fine popcorn movie with a satisfying conclusion and lots of comedy on the side. --Tom Keogh