Taxi 2 (2000)

Directed by: Gerard Krawczyk | 85 minutes | action, comedy | Actors: Samy Naceri, Frédéric Diefenthal, Marion Cotillard, Emma Sjöberg, Bernard Farcy, Jean-Christophe Bouvet, Frédérique Tirmont, Marc Faure, Hirata Haruhiko, Tsuyu Shimizu, Ko Suzuki, Yoshi Oida, Kentaro Yuji Yamashita, Hiro Sechiietyama, Onochi

After the success of ‘Taxi’ (1998), Luc Besson wrote the script for the sequel, ‘Taxi 2′ (2000), using the same formula. And now he has left the direction to someone else. Gérard Krawczyk has replaced Gérard Pirès in the director’s chair. He is no stranger because in the early stages of the shooting of the first part, he was temporarily in charge because Gérard Pirès was unable to film after an accident. Gérard Krawczyk has stayed close to the original with the film style, so that the viewer is quickly immersed in the story.

The film again contains a lot of action and humor, which for ‘Taxi’ standards is served to the viewer in the usual way at a rapid pace. It is not necessary to have seen ‘Taxi’ before watching this film, but given the number of references it is more fun. For example, the crooks are driving a red Mercedes again and the anti-terror car is called Cobra. This is a reference to the name of an operation in the first part.

The main characters from the first part all return. The screen time is also distributed in the same way. Daniel and Emilien are still in the center and the rest figures nicely around it. The only exception to this is Commissaire Gilbert. The creators did a good job of expanding this character. As for the other characters, the question is whether this can continue. In this way there will be no depth and the characters remain flat. For example, the characters of Petra and Lilly Bertineau (girlfriends of the protagonists) are ideally suited for further development.

‘Taxi 2′ is also a battle between France and Japan that is of course settled in favor of the French. After the Germans had to lose out in part one, it is now the turn of the Japanese. It has become a true madman’s ride through the streets of Marseille and Paris, fortunately not being looked at on a dent more or less. For lovers of action and comedy, this taxi ride is a real pleasure. Others will have to make do with the puke bag. After seeing the film you will know where to find it.