Guest TSMAdmin Report post Posted October 3, 2002 XXX Starring Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, and Asia Argento Written by Rich Wilkes Directed by Rob Cohen Rated PG-13, 114 minutes XXX is several things rolled into one. It is the typical Hollywood summer blockbuster, complete with copious explosions and special effects, fast cars, pretty girls, action heroes, and just enough of a plot to keep the naysayers quiet for two hours. It's also a sad testament to what the superspy genre has become: the intelligence and storytelling power of films like From Russia With Love have been replaced by plot-thin action vehicles like The World Is Not Enough and XXX. Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) is an extreme sports star with a bent for political activism. NSA Agent Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) concludes that a new type of agent is needed on a dangerous mission, one without the conventional training that he says the enemy spots too easily. Cage is brought to the NSA after his latest stunt, driving a senator's car off a bridge as some form of protest. Gibbons puts him through a series of test, ranging from the believable (the diner scenario was quite well-done) to the ridiculous (the Colombia excursion was thoroughly unbelievable). Cage shows intelligence, determination, and leadership that belie his looks and reputation, so he is picked for the mission. Cage is sent to Prague to infiltrate a group called "Anarchy 99," led by Russian expatriate Yorgi (Marton Csokas). Anarchy 99 believes in, well, anarchy, and they want to bring it about by using a secret chemical weapon developed during the dying days of the Soviet Union. Cage fits right into their fast Gen X nouveau riche lifestyle, and even has a few fans among Yorgi's henchmen. He takes a liking to Yorgi's girlfriend Yelena (the lovely Asia Argento), which is not immediately returned. The chemical weapon is called "Silent Night" and is delivered via rockets mounted onto a solar-powered submarine. The absurdity of using a submarine to deliver a weapon rendered harmless by submersion in water was apparently lost on writer Wilkes. Also, the sub (dubiously dubbed "Ahab") behaves nothing at all like a submarine should in the final action sequence, but since that was important to the denouement, I guess the audience is supposed to overlook it. Cage infiltrates the group, of course, and gains the trust of Yorgi. It's only a matter of time until his cover is blown and he is ordered to return home, but stays to finish the mission he started. Several elaborate ”extreme" stunts, numerous gadgets (supplied by XXX's own version of Bond's Q, though younger and ostensibly hipper for the target audience), and many explosions are used to accomplish this. Just like The Fast And The Furious, another movie emphasizing high-speed action over plot, Diesel is cast as the typical grunting action star. It's a shame that a man who has a lot more acting chops than this ends up taking such dreadfully typical action-star roles. Diesel is going to end up typecast before long – if he's not already – as a muscleman perfect for summer adventure movies. He can do a lot more – witness his performance in Boiler Room, as well as his acclaimed voice work on The Iron Giant – but I wonder if he'll continue to get the chance. XXX is designed to be a franchise, and I have no doubts that we'll see parts 2 and 3 in the summers of 2004 and 2006, if not sooner. The major failing of the movie was its willingness to fall back on extreme stunts to resolve conflicts. The most glaring example was Anarchy 99's communications tower, set on a mountain. Instead of using a rocket launcher to take it out from a distance, Cage jumps out of an airplane with a snowboard and starts down the mountain. He tosses explosives heedlessly over his shoulder, starts an avalanche that he apparently knew exactly how to predict, and manages to outrace both it and a cadre of men on snowmobiles to the communications tower before it is destroyed. In this regard, XXX reminds me of the worst moments of the later Batman films for their willingness to allow their hero to blithely disregard the laws of physics to get something done. Sure, it looks cool, but it's lazy storytelling that appeals to adolescents who don't know better than to look past it. XXX is enjoyable for what it is: a summer action movie long on explosions, gadgets, and stunts, but short on things like plot and good dialog. There were times the dialog in the movie was actively bad, opting for Gen X clichés and monosyllabic tough-guy aphorisms instead of lines that would indicate someone put some thought into their writing. In the end, the limited virtues of XXX aren't enough to overcome its failings and shortcomings. At least the Bond movies don't take themselves seriously. 4/10 Dr. Tom Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
