Review of xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017) by Lenny R — 08 Oct 2017

It's '70s-Bond-movie-level ridiculous (adjusted for technological advancement and CG-itude), full of corny one-liners and credulity-stretching action, the plot is kind of a mess, and it all feels a bit unnecessary.

Still, it doesn't take itself too seriously, and there is fun to be had, with not a Csokas or Tamahori in sight - though it does have two Ivans...sort of. I'm not so big on the idea of Xander having a team this time (it's more Fast & the Furious than 007), but, that said, most of the team members are good fun, and the cast is diverse and full of personality.

Diesel is more or less his usual self, but X skews funnier than Dom or Riddick, so that sets him apart. Nice fur coat. Yen makes an entertaining, charismatic sort-of-villain. Rose is great fun. Ditto McCann.

Padukone is fine. Hollywood still can't figure out what to do with Tony Jaa. Dobrev's comic timing is a bit off, but she's OK. Having a guy on the team whose only special skills are DJing and being 'fun to have around' seems like a stretch, even for this movie, and Kris Wu doesn't bring much to the character - not that there's much to bring.

Plus, in a possible first, I actually didn't like Toni Collette. DJ Caruso turns in yet another middling movie. For mine, he's yet to match The Salton Sea - and that and rabies don't make for a happy badger.