Cool, kinetic, and supremely self-assured, this compact little action flick moves far too quickly to sink under the weight of its plot holes and occasional pretensions. Although clearly indebted to writer/producer Luc Besson's previous exercises in Gallic underworld glamour, The Transporter perfectly balances the contributions of co-directors Corey Yuen and Louis Leterrier. Yuen, a Hong Kong vet with a several American fight-choreography credits under his belt, turns in some breathless action set pieces whose grace and economy seem miles away from the blustery Michael Bay school of excess. Leterrier, meanwhile, presumably deserves credit for eliciting such wry humor and genre-defying humanity from the performers. Freed from the cocky, talky constraints of Guy Ritchie's world, star Jason Statham exudes coiled tension underneath his controlled exterior. The tale of an underworld courier's crisis of conscience could too easily slip into mawkish self-parody, but Statham's less-is-more approach lends the scenario an undeniable authenticity; this man, rather than Vin Diesel or The Rock, should be the model for tomorrow's action hero. It helps that Shu Qi makes such a credible combination of victim, femme fatale, and witty foil. After a twisted "meet cute" silly enough to satisfy the most rabid romantic comedy fan, Qi and Statham settle into a delicious chemistry that survives several unlikely plot twists. François Berléand's role as a wise, wary police detective proves problematic, but he and Statham wring as much dramatic frisson as possible from their frequent, pseudo-philosophical tête-à-têtes. Matt Schulze's double-crossing villain is strictly pro forma, but fans of television's Alias will not be surprised to learn that Ric Young achieves an effortless air of smug menace as the imposing and ultimately cold-blooded Mr. Kwai. The Transporter may have failed to cross over at the American box office the way Besson's and Statham's previous efforts did, but it's an unassuming delight in a genre fraught with loud, showy duds.