Thrills, spills from action man Diesel
xXx: Return of Xander Cage, with Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, Kris Wu, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev, Toni Collette, Samuel L Jackson. Directed by Daniel John Caruso. 3/5
IF ever, there was a movie made for 3D, then xXx: Return of Xander Cage is it. From beginning to end, the movie, as one would expect from a xXx movie, is filled with fast-paced, actionpumped scenes.
Some, if not most, of the scenes are a bit on the unrealistic side, but that’s okay, it is xXx after all. Starring a beautiful cast with lots of attractive bodies in skimpy leather outfits partaking in thrilling and adrenalin-pumping scenes, the new xXx movie is certainly a feast for the eyes.
Considered dead for years, Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) is pulled out of a self-imposed exile when the xXx program is threatened by the Pandora’s Box, a device capable of unleashing global destruction using military satellites. Cage employs a group of thrill-seekers to help him find pandora’s box, as they clash against Xiang (Donnie Yen) and his team of highly trained mercenaries.
True to form, the new xXx pushes the action to the max with extreme sports, martial arts, bike chases on land and on water, jumping off a plane with no parachute, explosions and over-the-top and last-minute rescue plans. A truly refreshing part of the film is the performance by Bollywood star Deepika Padukone, who plays the part of Serena Unger. Her performance is compelling and interesting, showcasing her talents as a stunningly beautiful Indian villain turned heroine – without a forced American accent. At first she is the target of one of the mercenaries who stole the device, and then later she switches teams and becomes Cage’s love interest.
One does not simply walk into a xXx movie expecting Academy award-winning acting and a thoughtful storyline, but there are however enough crowdpleasing moments to distract you from a predictable plot, where the laws of physics don’t matter. If good old blood-pumping, edge-of-your-seat type entertainment is what you’re after, then XXx: Return of Xander Cage is the movie you need to see.