Film Reviews

xXx

• Rating:
• Director: Rob Cohen.
• Starring: Vin Diesel, Asia Argento, Marton Csokas, Samuel L. Jackson, Danny Trejo, Michael Roof, Tom Everett.
• Details: US / 110 mins / (12PG).

First, the bad news; xXx is probably the most ridiculous movie of the year with precious little in the way of a good script, nuanced performances or anything that could be mistaken for depth. The good news? xXx is so over the top and ruthlessly energetic that no matter how cynical you are, it becomes rather difficult not to warm to. The gravel voiced Vin Diesel plays Xander Cage, an extreme sports athlete who is constantly on the wrong side of the law. Recognising his ability to fly in the face of authority as well as his remarkable skills, Special Agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) recruits Xander as an undercover agent. His first mission sees him being sent off to Prague to stop a super villain called Yorgi (Martin Csokas) from exposing the world to a killer biological weapon called Silent Night. And, of course, along the way to saving the world, he encounters a foxy maiden (Argento) and gets up to all manner of hi-jinks and stunt-heavy shenanigans. Less a bona fida movie than a collection of remarkable set pieces loosely tied together by a suitably idiotic premise, xXx is a no holds barred assault on the senses. With no pretensions towards art, the movie thunders along at a fine pace and is for the most part, enjoyably silly fare.

Review by Garreth Murphy