Alright, buckle up, VHS fans! Tonight, we're popping in a tape that might technically be from the year 2000, but feels like it rolled straight out of the high-octane, slightly madcap spirit of the late 90s action boom. Slide that chunky cassette of Taxi 2 into the VCR, adjust the tracking just so, and prepare for a blast of pure, unadulterated French action-comedy mayhem. This isn't just a sequel; it's Luc Besson doubling down on everything that made the first Taxi a surprise hit, turning the speed dial up to eleven… and possibly breaking it off.
Marseille Mayhem Goes International
If the first film introduced us to Daniel Morales (Samy Naceri), the speed-demon taxi driver with a souped-up Peugeot 406 that could probably outrun a fighter jet, and his hilariously inept police inspector buddy Emilien Coutant-Kerbalec (Frédéric Diefenthal), then Taxi 2 throws them onto a bigger stage. This time, a Japanese minister is visiting Marseille to observe anti-gang tactics (oh, the irony!), only to be promptly kidnapped by Yakuza driving menacing black Mitsubishi Lancer Evos. Naturally, it falls to Daniel’s unparalleled driving skills and Emilien’s… well, Emilien’s presence, to save the day, protect Franco-Japanese relations, and maybe get Daniel’s girlfriend Lilly (Marion Cotillard, yes, that Marion Cotillard, years before international stardom) to finally meet his parents.
The plot? Let's be honest, it's gloriously secondary. Written by Luc Besson (who famously churned out these scripts with remarkable speed – rumour has it Taxi 2's was penned in about 30 days) and directed by Gérard Krawczyk (taking over from the first film's Gérard Pirès), the film is a vehicle, quite literally, for incredible car chases and buddy-cop chemistry. Besson's production house, EuropaCorp, was mastering a certain slick, high-energy style, and Taxi 2 is a prime example – less grit, more gloss, but still packing a surprising punch.
Real Cars, Real Speed, Real Danger
This is where Taxi 2 absolutely shines, especially looking back from our current era of seamless CGI. The action sequences here feel tangible. When that iconic white Peugeot 406 tears through the streets of Marseille and later Paris, you feel the speed, the near misses, the sheer audacity of the driving. Remember how jaw-dropping that sequence felt where the Taxi sprouts wings and flies (briefly!)? It’s utterly bonkers, but executed with a practical flair that sells the ridiculousness. These aren’t weightless digital models; these are real cars being pushed to their limits by incredibly skilled stunt drivers. The coordination involved in weaving through traffic, executing hairpin turns, and pulling off those J-turns is phenomenal. It feels grounded, even when it's leaping over tanks (more on that in a sec). It lacks the polished perfection of modern digital chases, sure, but it has a kinetic energy, a sense of risk, that’s often missing today. Wasn't that raw feeling part of the thrill back then?
It's impossible to talk about the stunts in Taxi 2 without acknowledging a tragic reality. During the filming of the climactic sequence involving the Peugeot jumping over army tanks, a devastating accident occurred. A miscalculation led to the stunt car travelling much further than planned, resulting in the death of cameraman Alain Dutartre and serious injuries to his assistant. It’s a sobering reminder of the very real dangers involved in the pursuit of practical spectacle during this era. The commitment to pushing the envelope with real stunts had profound consequences, and it’s important to remember the skill and bravery – and the risks taken – by the crews who brought these scenes to life.
The Odd Couple and a Rising Star
Beyond the vehicular insanity, the film rides heavily on the chemistry between its leads. Samy Naceri embodies effortless cool as Daniel, the kind of driver you simultaneously want and fear getting a ride from. His exasperation with Emilien is palpable but laced with genuine affection. Frédéric Diefenthal is comedy gold as the well-meaning but utterly disaster-prone Emilien. His physical comedy and knack for finding trouble provide the perfect counterpoint to Daniel's smooth competence.
And then there's Marion Cotillard. It's fascinating to see her here, radiating charm and comedic timing as Lilly, Daniel's long-suffering girlfriend, years before her Oscar-winning turn in La Vie en Rose (2007). Alongside Emma Sjöberg (now Wiklund) as the formidable Petra, Emilien's colleague and love interest, they provide more than just romantic subplots; they often get pulled directly into the chaos, proving just as capable (or, in Emilien's case, incapable) as the men.
More Hits Than Misses
Was Taxi 2 a critical darling? Not universally, perhaps. Some found the plot thin and the villains leaning into stereotypes. But audiences? They loved it. In France, it was a colossal hit, pulling in over 10 million admissions, cementing the franchise's place in French pop culture. It perfectly captured that turn-of-the-millennium desire for slick, fast-paced entertainment that didn't take itself too seriously. Sure, some of the humour and cultural depictions might feel a bit dated viewed through today's lens, particularly the portrayal of the Yakuza, but it’s presented with such broad, almost cartoonish energy that it mostly lands as silly rather than offensive. It’s a product of its time, for better or worse, but carries its age with a certain goofy charm. I distinctly remember renting this one, the box art promising pure automotive chaos, and it absolutely delivered on that promise late one Friday night.
VHS Heaven Rating: 7.5/10
Justification: Taxi 2 delivers exactly what it promises: exhilarating, practically-driven car chases, likeable buddy-comedy dynamics, and a healthy dose of absurdity. The stunts are the real star, showcasing a level of real-world automotive choreography that’s thrilling to watch. While the plot is lightweight and some elements haven't aged perfectly, the sheer energy, the Besson flair, and the core chemistry between Naceri and Diefenthal make it immensely rewatchable. The tragic circumstances surrounding its production add a layer of sobering reality to the dangers of practical stunt work, but the film itself remains a high-energy blast.
Final Thought: Forget hyper-realistic physics; Taxi 2 is a glorious testament to the power of putting ridiculously fast cars in ridiculous situations, captured with a go-for-broke energy that feels quintessentially of its time – a time when 'extreme' often meant doing it for real. Fire it up for a dose of pure, unfiltered Gallic adrenaline.