Taxi 2 *** (2000, Sami Naceri, Frédéric Diefenthal, Marion Cotillard, Jean-Christophe Bouvet, Emma Wiklund, Bernard Farcy) – Classic Movie Review 1385

Director Gérard Krawczyk’s 2000 French action crime comedy sequel Taxi 2 stars Sami Naceri, Frédéric Diefenthal, Marion Cotillard, Jean-Christophe Bouvet, Emma Wiklund and Bernard Farcy, as taxi driver Daniel and police inspector Emilien return to take on a group of Japanese yakuza.

The Japanese secretary of state (Hirata Haruhiko) is visiting Marseilles on a mission to invest in France’s anti-terrorism expertise, expected to sign a multi-billion-dollar contract with the French government. But he is kidnapped by a Japanese gang of Yakuza.

Cabbie Daniel (Sami Naceri) and his pal Emilien, the cop (Frédéric Diefenthal) from Taxi (1998), get involved in an adventure to rescue the diplomat and ensure that the deal is signed. Emilien also has to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, officer Petra (Emma Wiklund).

Jean-Christophe Bouvet is hysterical as the General, Edmond Bertineau.

Writer/co-producer Luc Besson’s welcome sequel to the 1998 hit proves another daft, fast-paced, high-energy French all-action crime comedy adventure, with thrilling stunts, crashes and pile-ups. Overacting to his heart’s content, Jean-Christophe Bouvet is hysterical as the General, Edmond Bertineau.

Taxi 2 also co-stars Marion Cotillard as Lilly Bertineau. In 2007, Cotillard received international recognition and a Best Actress Oscar for her iconic portrayal of Édith Piaf in La Vie en Rose (2007).

Emma Wiklund [Emma Sjöberg], Bernard Farcy, Frédérique Tirmont, Marc Faure, Haruhiko Hirata, and Tsuyu Shimizu also co-star.

Sequels: Taxi 3 (2003) and Taxi 4 in 2007. American remake: Taxi (2004).

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1385

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