XXx - The Return of Xander Cage

For a long time it was said that xXx agent Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) was dead. But that was just a clever red herring to avoid having to work for the government anymore. But now the fearless extreme athlete is being brought back from his self-proclaimed retirement: a group of mysterious crooks has stolen the so-called Pandora's Box from the CIA. It can be used to bring down any satellite orbiting the Earth in a controlled manner. That's how Cage's former boss, Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson), was killed. His successor, Jane Marke (Toni Collette), hires the one-time xXx agent to retrieve the box. With a not-so-government-friendly team of his own making, Cage tackles the job - only to soon discover that things are not as they first appear.

Twelve years after the failed sequel to 2002's action hit xXx, which starred rapper Ice Cube instead of Vin Diesel, director D.J. Caruso now ventures to revive this completely over-the-top extreme sports agent series with xXx - The Return of Xander Cage. To cut right to the chase: Part 3 is worlds better than the second film. At the same time, Vin Diesel's return to this franchise is completely bonkers - but in a positive, entertaining sense. There's no question about it: some of the dialogue is subterraneously bad and the characters are walking clichés. In addition, it is sometimes quite unpleasant to watch how the almost fifty-year-old Vin Diesel flirts with far too young women. Of course, where Xander Cage appears, there are only scantily clad women with extremely sexy bodies anyway, and they move accordingly. That would probably make even James Bond blush in shame.

All these would actually be good reasons to mercilessly rip this action vehicle apart. But the film has an ace up its sleeve, played right from the glorious opening sequence, and the entire film benefits from it: It makes it clear right from the first minute that it doesn't take itself seriously and just wants to offer the audience some delightfully over-the-top fun. And that works really well for long stretches - at least if you're not desperately looking for logic, ambition and originality.

The action sequences are sometimes really good, even if especially at the beginning it's really too thick. Also effects and camera can convince in many moments and ensure that xXx - The Return of Xander Cage is at least something for the eyes, if already the intellect is completely underwhelmed by the flick. Sure, all that doesn't make for a good movie. But somehow you get the feeling that this claim is not pursued at all. So if you just want to see unrestrained stupid popcorn action and you like the first part - or Vin Diesel in general - you'll be really well entertained here. And let's be honest: Who expected more from the return of the avalanche surfer Xander Cage, is himself to blame! Therefore: Lower your brain functions to a necessary minimum, because then the whole thing is absolutely worth seeing for fans!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp