The Transporter (TV Series) Trojan Horsepower (2012) User Reviews

Chris Vance steps into Jason Statham's shoes in this fine introduction to the 'Transporter' TV show

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 11 July 2015]

After three exciting films driver Frank Martin is back; this time in a television series. In this, the opening episode, Frank is hired to take a device that improves the efficiency of any car from Nice to Paris; it is the only one of the device and its inventor has already been killed by people who are determined that it will never go into production. He will be accompanied by Trina, the daughter of the man whose company made the device. As Frank and Trina head north is soon becomes apparent that their car is being tracked by killers intent on stopping them reaching Paris. Frank tries to lose them but it won't be easy; there will be many car chases, both on fast main roads and in the narrow lanes of French towns; as well as fights where Frank must confront them outside his car. All the action leads to a gripping confrontation on a bridge where Frank's car is left balancing on the edge as the bad guys close in for the kill.

The first thing to note about this series is the fact that Frank Martin is no longer played by Jason Statham, instead he is played by Chris Vance. Thankfully Vance makes no attempt to imitate Statham's performance so it is possible to get over the change. The story is pretty much the same as that in the films; Frank must drive somewhere with a beautiful woman while bad guys try to stop him. This doesn't matter though as 'The Transporter' was never about deep plots with convoluted twists; it is about exciting car chases, impressive fights and Frank travelling with a beautiful woman and this story delivers in all regards. Chris Vance is a decent enough replacement in the role of Frank and I'm sure he'll seem even better in future episodes once I'm fully used to the fact that he isn't Jason Statham. The car chases are really good; certainly much better than one would expect in a television show. The fights are also impressive even if they are on a smaller scale to those seen in the films. As well as some impressive action there is some fairly tongue in cheek humour. There is also a small amount of swearing and nudity although I doubt it will bother anybody wanting to watch a show like this. Overall I'd say this was a great introduction to the show; I hope future episodes are as good… I'll definitely continue watching.

Transported By Television

[zardoz-13 · 7/10 · 5 September 2015]

In the "Transporter" series premiere, resourceful Frank Martin (Chris Vance) agrees to take a special car device that reduces car fuel consumption from Nice to a Paris automotive show. The daughter of the inventor, Trina (Moon Dailly of "OSS 117: Lost in Rio"), persuades Frank to perform this difficult task. Frank's stocky mechanic cohort Dieter Hausmann (Charly Hübner of "Autopiloten") admires Trina's father Laurent (François-Eric Gendron of "Sweet Revenge") and he urges Frank to help the father and daughter out. We learn that Laurent's other prototype and car burned in a factory fire, and Laurent has only one unit left. Naturally, Frank must deliver this revolutionary gadget intact, but the complication is that the villains can track the car by means of the gadget. Early on Frank realizes that they cannot elude their adversaries because they stick with them like flies on flypaper. Frank coasts through town and parks at a motel and this frustrates the villains. Frank and Trina spend the night together, and then later Frank tangles with two of the thugs in a brief motel hallway fight. He roughs them up, but the other three thugs show up not long afterward, and Frank displays his close-quarters combat skills and leaves them strewn in the street. At least, the fight scenes are handled with modest aplomb. Eventually, Frank commandeers a truck and runs interference with Trina who is now driving the car with the gadget. Meanwhile, Laurent worries his head off about his daughter and deals with the threats of his former employer who wants the gadget for himself. The most suspenseful scene in the show has poor Trina crashing the car on a bridge over a river and the vehicle teetering on the brink. Frank helps Trina escape from the swaying vehicle and takes care of the remaining pistol-wielding villain. While all this nonsense is happening, Dieter has rejoined the action and he is traveling along in his own little funky-looking car. Again, the catch is that Frank has switched the gadget to Dieter's car and Dieter has been following Trina's car that their enemies are pursuing. Everything turns out okay in this reasonably entertaining, but low-budget thriller. Chris Vance resembles a young Harvey Keitel of "Reservoir Dogs" without all of Keitel's fastidious mannerisms that make Keitel so fascinating to watch in any predicament. As Frank's mechanic pal, Charly Hübner is a series regular and serves as comic relief. An early scene shows Frank exploring the property around his house and running into a babe swimming without a bra. Since I haven't seen the show as it was broadcast on television, I cannot say if the network deleted the use of profane words as well as the upper frontal nudity. Of course, produced on a budget, there is no way that this efficient little television episodes can compete with the theatrical Jason Statham actioneers, but they aren't as execrable as I initially thought.

Altogether, "The Transporter" television series seems to keep everything intact from the first movie and it could qualify as a prequel presumably because Frank's house remains standing and unblemished. The only holdover from the films is French Inspector Tarconi with actor François Berléand reprising his role in the opening sequel where Frank chauffeurs two escaped convicts in red suits to a church funeral. Frank's rules still apply. He forces one of the three escapees to fend for himself since he was only notified that two men would be breaking out. Mind you, additions have been made on account of it is a television series and you need people to surround the hero and supply requisite exposition as well as serve later as hostages in abduction dramas when our hero needs to be taken advantage of by the villains.