Sometimes, all you need is a good film and a bag of popcorn to unwind in front of the telly.

Film 4’s schedule tonight has just the right movie for such an evening. ‘Transporter 2’ is a classic Jason Statham thriller that showcases the British actor’s signature style.

The film sees Statham reprising his role as Frank Martin, a former special-ops agent turned professional driver. This time, he’s tasked with chauffeuring a politician’s young son, Jack, who ends up being kidnapped.

What follows is a series of extravagant action sequences and set pieces that will make you glad you decided to stay in for a movie night.

By box office standards, the 2005 film was a success, raking in $89.1million against a budget of $32million. However, Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a lukewarm 52% rating from critics, while audiences rate it slightly higher at 58% on the Popcornmeter, reports the Mirror.

These figures suggest a mixed reception, but one thing that’s undeniable when Statham is involved is the sheer fun factor. From implausible stunts – like a jet ski launching onto a motorway followed by a leap into a school bus – to unusual yet inventive weaponry, this film is a thrilling ride from start to finish.

Even the villainous plot is outlandish – Frank discovers that Jack’s kidnappers are threatening to unleash a deadly virus, and it’s up to him to save the boy and find an antidote before innocent lives are lost.

As one Rotten Tomato reviewer admitted: “One of my biggest guilty pleasure films. Obviously The Transporter 2 isn’t gonna win any awards for creativity or story but it’s still a damn entertaining action film.”

Another enthusiast, who awarded it a perfect five stars, said: “If it were up to me, I would pretty much enjoy this ride. It’s the action sequences and the car chases that make TRANSPORTER 2 a feel good movie for every action movie fan out there.”

A third contributor added: “The villains are a bit over the top, but I expect that from Luc Besson, Its a “French Thing” But Jason Startham is totally awesome as the super cool and stylish Transporter…… And just like Frank’s his new tricked-out Audi A8 car, this movie is just a fun action-packed ride.”

Nevertheless, not everyone was impressed by the production and some critics even condemned the screenplay as “lazy”. Awarding it a mere one-and-a-half stars, this critic said: “I liked the first one, but this one challenged me. Realism is always tested with these sorts of films, but this sequel went way too far with impossible car flips, a plane crash that didn’t kill everyone onboard and bullet dodging which made no sense at all. Fight scenes where all the bad guys conveniently run out of ammo is just lazy writing.”

‘Transporter 2’ naturally follows on from ‘The Transporter’, which launched his career back in 2002.

The original film presently holds a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that audiences will enjoy it marginally more than its sequel.

One fan raved: “From the very first scene, The Transporter establishes itself as a masterclass in stylish, no-nonsense action. The Transporter is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish.”