xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017)

“xXx: Return of Xander Cage” stars Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, Kris Wu, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Toni Collette, and Samuel L. Jackson.  Released on January 20, 2017, the film has Xander Cage coming out of self-imposed exile to retrieve a powerful weapon before it falls into the hands of evil.

The film is directed by D. J. Caruso, who also directed films such as Disturbia, Eagle Eye, and I Am Number Four.  It is the third installment in the xXx film series.  I haven’t watched much of the first film, which was released in 2002, but I did remember watching parts of its sequel, xXx: State of the Union.  This long-awaited action sequel sees the return of the first film’s main character, and like the recent Fast & Furious films, this one’s about to break the laws of physics with some insane stunt work.  When I look at action films like this, I intend to study just how fun and entertaining they are, whether the story is good or not.  If it reaches its potential, great.  If not, oh well.  D. J. Caruso got hit really hard with his last film, The Disappointments Room, but I’m happy to say that his latest film makes up for it.

One of the things that I really enjoyed out of this film was that it knows how ridiculous the plot is.  It does have a few cliches here and there, and the third act is pretty predictable, but they don’t become a nuisance to me once the fun starts rolling in.  Vin Diesel was a blast to watch as Xander Cage.  I do feel that compared to his other roles, he seems to have more fun portraying this type of character who’s both funny and awesome.  Donnie Yen portrays Xiang, who also wants to get his hands on the weapon, while also serving as a competitor to Cage.  Let’s just say that he’s more talented with his skills than he is with his performance.  If you’re seeing this for the stunts alone, you won’t be disappointed.  Some of the stunts that were used in this film are unrealistic, but they’re also a pleasant to watch.  Although in some cases, they do feel like they could be leftover ideas for the Fast & Furious films.  I also had a blast with some of the other supporting characters.  They’re not strong characters, but they do have a way to generate some laughs without forcing them out.

Overall, “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” was a blast to watch thanks to some likable performances and its ability to deliver some action-packed fun.  Sure, the plot has that “been there, done that” scenario, but it reached its potential of being a ridiculous, yet thrilling, action sequel, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  If you’re a fan of Vin Diesel or you’re just looking for some mindless fun, then this one’s worth checking out.  Oh, and please don’t try any of these stunts at home.  These guys are professionals. 

B