A Jason Statham action film has garnered polarising critiques – yet cinema fans are still insisting it merits viewing and it’s broadcasting on Four Plus this evening.

In Transporter 3, the third instalment of the franchise released in 2008, Jason Statham reprises his role as professional driver Frank Martin who finds himself compelled to transport a kidnapped Ukrainian official’s daughter, Valentina (Natalya Rudakova), throughout Europe.

To guarantee obedience, both Frank and Valentina are fitted with explosive devices that trigger if they venture beyond 75 feet from their motor.

The picture managed just 40 per cent on film review platform Rotten Tomatoes, with many viewers highlighting problems with the plot, set pieces and dramatic displays.

Nevertheless, certain appraisals proved favourable, commending it as an action picture deserving attention.

One review said: “Jason Statham does still handle the role of Frank Martin well and it has some fun sequences, but the lackadaisical Transporter 3 is a massive step-down from its two predecessors due to horribly filmed action, erratic editing and a story that is generic, doesn’t properly present its stakes and is poorly paced.”

Another added: “The action scenes aren’t particularly flashy, the romance part comes out of nowhere. Their are several gaping plot holes. Wouldn’t recommend.”, reports the Mirror.

A third wrote: “‘Transporter 3’ is a bad action movie, and not even in that mindless dumb fun way. I have never seen any movies in this series, and I have heard the other two are better, so I’m not closed off to it.

“However, this third movie came with a Jason Statham collection I had purchased so I decided to watch it. I thought some of the action scenes were acceptable, but I couldn’t care less about the story.

“To be honest I couldn’t tell you what the movie was about in its entirety and a lot of the time I just felt bored watching it.

“Overall, it is an action movie that I just couldn’t get into and I feel like maybe my opinion could change if I watched the other movies, but only time will tell if watching them will make me like this movie more or less. As it stands, I don’t like this movie at all and think there are plenty of great action movie alternatives.”

Yet certain cinema fans still suggested it merited viewing, with one saying: “Arguably the franchise’s strongest film – but that’s not saying much. Knepper, unlike Rudakova, has some good moments, while Statham and Berléand reprise their roles on autopilot.

“The action is quite engaging, especially the car chases, and the gimmick driving the plot serves its purpose, however the story is made to seem a lot more complicated than it is, the dialogues are often nauseatingly cringy, and the female lead is mostly there to constantly drool over Statham and, for some reason, food.”

A different viewer shared comparable sentiments, remarking: “Another over the top action film from statham. Not as good as the original but still entertaining.”

Transporter 3 airs on Sunday 1 February on 4 plus 7 at 10pm.