xXx 3D: Return of Xander Cage
(2017)Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) returns for a tough new assignment with his handler Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) in the third entry in the xXx series. Action icons Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa co-star.... More
After coming out of self-imposed exile, daredevil operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) must race against time to recover a weapon known as Pandora's Box, a device that controls every military satellite in the world. Recruiting a new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself entangled in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of government.Hide
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Directed by D.J. Caruso
Starring Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Ruby Rose, Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, Toni Collette, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev, Rory McCann
Written by F. Scott Frazier, Chad St. John
Out Now (On-Demand,
DVD or Blu-Ray)
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 1 providers
Flicks Review
BY Steve Newall Flicks Writer
The xXx films have never promised high-brow cinema. Still, it comes as a something of a surprise to see Vin Diesel’s return as Xander Cage bring with it a stupendous amount of boredom alongside its expected silliness.... More
As Diesel struts his way through preposterous action sequences, embraces of lingerie-clad models, and eye-rolling one-liners (generally all good things) it’s striking how little fun anyone seems to be having. With the exception of Toni Collette, who pushes the boat out so far as Cage’s handler that sometimes even she seems surprised she’s allowed to be so hammy with her awful dialogue.
“Who cares?”, action fans will ask. If you’re just on board for ludicrous fights and stunt sequences, they do exist, but many fail to fire. Any time Donnie Yen is on screen, though, he enlivens proceedings, not only showing his prowess at ass-kicking in three excellent sequences spaced throughout the film, but pleasingly doing a lot more than you’d typically expect from a Hong Kong action star - his skills properly showcased and actually allowed to act in more than a one-note role.
As the pic rolls on it’s hard to escape thinking that the producers - including one Vin Diesel P.G.A. - have just tried to roll out a variant on the Fast & Furious formula by assembling a family of teammates, putting them through their paces, and replacing a car obsession with a gun fetish.
The result reeks of pandering to teenagers, and the brains trust behind the film not really getting what makes Diesel’s aforementioned franchise tick - long-running love for its characters peppered with genuinely spectacular absurdity.
As this sequel concludes, it even replicates recent Fast & Furious entries by teasing future characters and developments. Neither of which will get me back to endure another sequel.Hide
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xXx 3D: Return of Xander Cage
The Press Reviews
...there's no time for such trifling issues as continuity and plausibility when the fate of the world is at stake. Full Review
We've seen all these stunts pulled before, and seen them done better, but there's some pleasure to be had here - even if it's of the extremely guilty kind. Full Review
It's hilarious and harmless fun. Full Review
Only the release of a new Police Academy film could cause less excitement. But Vin, great ridiculous beefcake lunk that he is, does provide us with some fun. Full Review
Diesel isn't quite 50 yet, and has very big arms, but we're still nearing Roger-Moore-in-A-View-to-a-Kill levels of barely dominating his own film: you feel sorry for the conspicuously agile stunt doubles who've had to shave all their hair off. Full Review
...with Bond taking itself far too seriously these days, Bourne having vanished up his own angst years ago and no sign of another Expendables installment any time soon, then, damn it, the world needs films like XXX: The Return of Xander Cage. Full Review
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