‘Desperate times call for desperate measures’ is often
quoted. This is especially true in Hollywood where actors and producers
revive old franchises in the hope of regaining lost glory. Vin Diesel,
for instance, was once a rising action star who initially discarded his
popularity by refusing to appear in anymore ‘Fast and Furious’ or ‘XXX’
films. Due to dwindling star power, Diesel returned to the ‘Fast and
Furious franchise which considerably raised his stocks. ‘XXX: The Return
of Xander Cage’ continues his career redemption with a litany of explosions
sure to please many admirers.
Long thought dead, extreme sports star Xander Cage (Vin
Diesel) is forced out from the cold. Lured by NSA agent Jane Marke (Toni
Collette), Cage is tasked with bringing down a mysterious villain controlling Pandora’s
Box, a powerful weapon. Gathering a crack team of adrenaline junkies, Cage’s
quest spans the globe as he tries to save the world from Armageddon.
The best thing one could say about ‘XXX: The Return of
Xander Cage’ is that it’s well produced nonsense. Those looking for depth
or subtlety won’t find it as the film exists purely as an action extravaganza
and explosive spectacle. In that regards it works very well with each
high-octane scene lovingly filmed within an inch of their lives. Although
billed as director, D.J. Caruso doesn’t have to do much other than to control
the excess in which the production wants to go.
The plot isn’t much and neither is the acting. From
Diesel onwards, each performer’s tongue is firmly in their cheeks as they spout
increasingly silly dialogue. Their handling of the action scenes are
admirable even if most are hard to watch. This is an incredibly
fast-paced film with the editing zipping through each stunt with high
speed. This detracts from enjoying each sequence and produces more
headaches than awe. The sense of fun permeates throughout, making the
action bearable even if you can’t take anything seriously.
‘XXX: The Return of Xander Cage’ is disposable celluloid
rubbish that will have its fans. It’s enjoyably silly and frequently
underscores the over the top nature of the threadbare script. This could
be another franchise for Diesel to sink his muscles into with his brawn and
biceps often more startling than the ridiculous hokum in which he participates.
Movie Review Rating out of 10: 5
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
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