“B” Rating by Robert W. Hammerle

For those of you who are inclined to dismiss “Transporter 3” as the cinematic equivalent of junk food, please think again. A combination of James Bond and Jason Bourne, Jason Statham again delivers a rousing, self-deprecating performance as Frank Martin, the world’s only “Super Chauffeur.” This movie is funny, clever, sultry, action packed, and it is hard to imagine anyone successfully resisting its delightful gravitational pull.

Filmed on location at various gorgeous venues in France, Russia and the Ukraine, the story revolves around Statham getting sucked into a conspiracy involving the blackmailing of an environmentally conscious Ukrainian Prime Minister (Jeroen Krabbé) by a corporation seeking to dump tons of sludge on his country.

A sinister Russian mob is employed to kidnap the Prime Minister’s daughter Valentina (Natalya Rudakova), and for reasons that I will not give away Statham must drive her to an unknown destination and fate.

Forced into an unlikely alliance, Rudakova and Statham gradually if reluctantly begin to trust the other over the course of their spectacularly adventuresome road trip. Adding to the suspense was the fact that the kidnappers have fastened metal bracelets to their wrists that will detonate if they venture more than 75 feet from their car. The chemistry between Statham and Rudakova was delightful to watch, and their flirtatious exchanges were both amusing and undeniably sensual.

Ms. Rudakova is a genuine find. With her flaming red hair and face full of freckles, she is anything but a classic Hollywood beauty. However, her eyes, particularly when made up to look like she was some gothic queen of the night, were impossible to avoid, and she exuded a smoldering sensuality that could probably bring the dead back to life.

But what really makes “Transporter 3” work is the complex, sinister performance by Robert Knepper, a man simply known as Johnson, the head of the mob manipulating Statham. He was a killer with a stylish sense of humor, and he was a worthy foil for Mr. Statham. Since you know from this rousing movie’s title (it does contain the number “3,” after all), who is likely to win in the end, Mr. Knepper keeps things highly interesting as well as entertaining right up to the explosive (and I mean that literally) climax.

Helping Statham fight his way out of the clutches of the mob is the laconic Inspector Tarconi, played with a relaxed flair by François Berléand. The cleverness of the script (it is co-written by the talented and prolific Luc Besson) is reflected in the interchanges between Berléand and Statham, particularly in scenes where they are fishing together. As they are engaged in a discussion concerning the various strengths and weaknesses of certain nationalities, Statham remarks that the French have a tragically warped sense of humor, citing as evidence the fact of their unfathomable love of Jerry Lewis!

Berléand, French to the core, objects to this characterization, stating that he actually liked Dean Martin much better. For his part, he found the Russians to be dull beyond words, citing Dostoevsky’s novels where everyone is constantly morose and the depressed. As I said, this isn’t your standard throw-away action film.

And then there are the special effects. Let’s just say that they are as preposterous as they are gleefully enjoyable. If you want a taste of what you are in store for, how about Statham running his Audi off a bridge to successfully land on a moving train! Or how about having the Audi ride sideways on two tires while it squeezes between two semis traveling on a highway!

What gives this entertaining film substance is its authenticity. Not only does it frequently use subtitles, but the Russian and French characters speak in thick accents even when they are conversing in English. As previously stated, this movie has more artistic gravitas than many other dramas posing as serious films.

Without question, Statham is frequently put in scenes where he is completely over the top. On the other hand, while scenes showing him single handedly defeating a gang of arm pursuers are admittedly foolish to the nth degree, they are done with such flair and style that you could really care less. The fact is that “Transporter 3” is just pure, unadulterated fun.

More importantly, it is time that the movie industry starts taking Mr. Statham seriously as a dramatic actor. All one has to do is look at his immense contributions to such wonderful films as “The Italian Job” (2003), “War” (2007) and last year’s “The Bank Job,” as proof thereof. Furthermore, he even made this year’s foolish “Death Race” eminently watchable. I can’t help but feel that big things wait for him down the road if he continues to challenge himself.