THE TRANSPORTER REFUELLED is the fourth instalment of the TRANSPORTER franchise and the first without Jason Statham, the reason being that they couldn't afford this paycheque this time around. Statham is replaced by Ed Skrein, of GAME OF THRONES stardom, who appears weak, wooden and ineffectual by comparison. The film itself is the usual light thriller that doesn't make a whole lot of sense if you look at it too closely. Our hero transports three vengeful women assassins around as they try to take down a human trafficker. The best role goes to a slick and charismatic Ray Stevenson, who walks over every other actor in the proceedings. The film is light on car chases but has a lot of hand-to-hand combat, some of which is promising, albeit spoilt by the usual over-direction and random editing that makes everything that little bit worse to look at.

Frank Martin (Ed Skrein) is the transporter, a professional driver for hire with a personal code. His dad (Ray Stevenson) is a newly retired British secret agent. Frank is hired by Anna (Loan Chabanol) and her three beautiful friends. He gets dragged into a bank heist revenge plot against the Russian mobster who fifteen years earlier had trafficked the girls into sex slavery. When he tries to cancel the deal, they reveal that they have kidnapped his father.

The story is reasonable for a Transporter movie. There are car chases and action fights. It's a little weird that Anna hasn't aged in 15 years. It should be 5 years instead. The missing presence of Jason Statham hangs over this movie. With Statham being so busy and probably much more expansive, replacing him is an understandable move. Luc Besson tries to continue the franchise with newcomer Ed Skrein. He has the Euro-smirk down pat but he can't replace Statham. It's too big of an ask. Besson should have Statham do a cameo to hand off the baton. Ed Skrein could be a disciple or even his little brother. In that way, Statham could always return to the franchise like Vin Diesel returning to the Fast and Furious franchise. At this point, Statham could return only if this movie is forgotten like a bad hangover.

The Transporter, Frank Martin (Ed Skrein) who never uses his real name, is contracted to transport some packages, and it only surprises him that the packages are humans (been there, done that, remember?). These are women who worked as prostitutes/escorts/hostesses for a crime boss (Radivoje Bukvic) and a number of smaller bosses, all who have millions. They devise a plan whereby they can get the money, wear Swedish Bikini Team blond wigs, and advertise Audi cars. This is not just an Audi, but one that can side swipe automobiles, hit fire hydrants and never have so much as superficial paint scratch. Graphene?

The film is high octane, and needlessly so. I have noticed a trend to uses Audi automobiles as opposed to Jaguars for the cool car. In this film, there was a scene when Frank is being chased by the police, they swap cars....to a nearly identical Audi. What's the point? Dad (Ray Stevenson) manages to do an American Express commercial. I just feel like going out and buying an Audi and charging it on my AX card using my IPhone 5 (also prominently displayed a gazillion times).

The film is a reboot. Jason Statham wouldn't do it for less than $11 million, so we get Jason Statham lite, a man who arguably is a better actor, but not the box office draw. The movie takes place supposedly in 2010 (1995 + 15 years) yet uses later model I-Phones and Audis. The reboot throws at the audience all the gimmicks of a Transporter film, but it has very little substance. Stick a fork in it.

Guide: 1 F-bomb. Implied sex. No nudity.