A Japanese minister of defence is traveling to Paris to sign a weapons contract between Japan and France, but first, he is visiting Marseille to view and rate the city police's anti gang tactics. During the visit, however, he is kidnapped by a group working for the Japanese yakuza. Emilien is determined to rescue the minister and detective Petra, his girlfriend who was also kidnapped, and restore the honour of his department. Once again, speed demon taxi driver Daniel is called upon to save the day with his high speed driving skills. Also with the Peugeot, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI is also featured as a star car driven by the Yakuzas.
Production started immediately after the massive success of the first film in the theaters, but this time Besson wanted to up his share of the split with the production company ARP to 70/30 from 50/50. Lead of ARP and Besson's friend Pétin grit his teeth, as he had carried the first project, but he agreed. The director of the first film Gérard Pirès was replaced by Gérard Krawczyk, who detractors say was more controllable, but who responded back stating he did what he wanted without needing to respect the scenarios laid by Besson.
Cameraman death
On Monday August 16, 1999, only two weeks into filming, Boulevard de l'Amiral-Bruix was closed for traffic for the length between Porte Dauphine and Porte Maillot. The Peugeot 406 had to come speeding out of the tunnel, head on to the springboard, jump over two AMX-30 tanks and land on a bed of boxes and mattresses. After an unsuccessful first try, the stunt coordinatorRémy Julienne with 35 years of experience and credit of 4000 films including six James Bond Films, decided to increase the incline of the springboard a bit and also up the car's running speed. On the second take, the taxi took off faster and higher, landing a few meters further than expected, hitting the 41-year-old cameraman Alain Dutartre, his assistant and a third person. Dutartre died a few hours later in the hospital. The assistant also broke both of his legs. Besson was in Los Angeles at the time and was contacted immediately. He flew to the set, where detectives were already investigating the matter. Filming had to continue, but did so in a somber mood. In June 2002, Luc Besson was summoned to court. Authorities alleged safety was compromised in an effort to cut costs. The stunt coordinator Rémy Julienne was given a one month suspended jail sentence, and fined €13,000. Luc Besson, Grenet and director Gerard Krawczyk were initially cleared of charges. But the Paris Court of Appeal reversed the ruling in June 2009, and EuropaCorp was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and ordered to pay €100,000. Julienne's jail sentence was reduced to six months, and his fine was reduced from €13,000 to €2,000, but he was required to pay the Dutartre family €50,000 in court costs.
Reception
Box office
The film garnered 10.3 million admissions in France and 5 million in 37 other countries worldwide. It also had good TV ratings with 10 million viewers on TF1.
Critical response
Neil Smith, reviewing the film for BBC, gave it two stars out of five and writes that it's a "virtual reprise of the 1998 French box-office smash" and while "there's very little of merit in this tongue-in-cheek actioner, it at least delivers the requisite amount of high-octane thrills."
