xXx: The Return of Xander Cage

xXx: The Return of Xander Cage Director: D. J. Caruso

After 15 years, Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) returns from the dead for a mission so deadly and dangerous, it requires the services of all the xXx agents – past, present and deep-cover. Pandora’s Box – a diabolical communication device that controls every military satellite in the world – has fallen into the wrong hands, and those satellites are being turned into weapons of mass destruction. (Oh no!)

Which is exactly how xXx: The Return of Xander Cage opens: with the illustrious Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L Jackson) pontificating to a recruit on the merits of serving one’s country, when a fiery furnace of sky falls on them.

Cut to Xander Cage, very much alive and as devoted to his extreme sports as ever. Yes, he can leap from the top of a power pole with skis on, downhill ski through the dense Dominican jungle, then on-road it on a skateboard – passing buses, cars and motorcycles. And arrive in time to power the football match on TV with just enough energy left over for a night of passion.

But with the apparent demise of Augustus Gibbons, it’s time for Xander to get back to work. The new agency head, the deviously one-dimensional Jane Marke (Toni Collette) lures him back in. Disposing of Marke’s supposedly crack team, he takes on his own support staff, including the audacious Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black) as sharp-shooter Adele Yusef. Their nemesis is an international foursome headed by the charismatic Xiang (Donnie Yen) along with Muay Thai master Tony Jaa (the Ong-Bak Trilogy) as Talon and Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, as Serena, possibly the most dangerous woman Xander has encountered.

Penned by F. Scott Frazier (Collide, 2016) who specialises in high-concept actioners, xXx: The Return of Xander is a dizzying spy vs spy popcorner much in the spirit of the 2002 original with one startling difference. Post 9/11 patriotism was all the rage and Xander Cage discovered his love of country and proudly flew the US flag.

Fifteen years down the road – XXX declares there are no more patriots – just rebels and tyrants. Allegiances shift as betrayals and allegiances are exposed. While there are many moralistic moments of hope and optimism wedged in between the action, they’re strictly about personal morality – and no country has the moral high ground.

Director D. J. Caruso (Disturbia, 2007) is best known for his explosive car crashes. And if his direction is basically by-the-numbers set pieces strung together with connecting dialog scenes, those set pieces are so explosive and so over the top – it doesn’t matter. That said, I flinched when Xander and Talon battled each other in the middle of the motorway with cars speeding past – and both were struck by cars head-on and they just carried on – leaping over fences as if nothing had happened. That’s taking suspension of disbelief just a little too far…

The problem with formulaic direction is that it doesn’t take us anywhere new. The original XXX was one of my favourite films of 2002. Sure, it was cheesy and the plot full of holes – yet there was a freshness and exuberance that made it a thrill to watch.

The 2005 sequel with Ice Cube as XXX was painful, so I was looking forward to this outing with Vin Diesel, even if the actor is looking 50 in the eye. He is impeccably fit – and if he looked a few decades past his use-by date skateboarding at 100 kph, he pulled off the rest of his action scenes convincingly.

The excellent supporting cast carry their share of the action. Donnie Yen (who also handled the choreography) is a worthy opponent and mesmerising stuntman. Deepika Padukone and Vin Diesel have sizzling chemistry which could have got just a little hotter. Ruby Rose’s comedic timing and no-nonsense tough chick is exquisite.

But in the end – a great action flick is about the total ride – where it takes you – how high, how far and the thrills and chills along the way. xXx: The Return of Xander was pretty good – but… I’ve had better.

Check out the trailer:

3.5 stars

Veronica McLaughlin