xXx

REVIEW:

The 2002 film xXx, directed by Rob Cohen and starring Vin Diesel as extreme-sports-athlete-turned-secret-agent Xander Cage, is a loud, brash action flick that attempts to blend spy thrills with over-the-top stunts. As someone who isn’t the biggest Vin Diesel fan, I’ve always found his acting range limited, often typecast as the tough guy hero. In xXx, however, Diesel displays a level of enjoyment in his role that, while still within his usual “tough guy” persona, injects a bit more comedic flair and self-awareness. It’s clear he’s having fun with the character, and that lighthearted energy makes xXx a more entertaining ride compared to some of his later, more stoic performances.

This film marked the second collaboration between Diesel and Cohen, following their success with The Fast and the Furious. Unfortunately, lightning didn’t strike twice. While their earlier film brought a fresh, adrenaline-pumping energy to the action genre, xXx feels like a misguided attempt to replicate that same spark with a spy twist. The result is a film that feels cobbled together from teenage fantasies of what a “cool” action movie should be, rather than something with genuine heart or tension. The script is often eye-rollingly corny, and many scenes seem designed more to show off stunts and explosions than to tell a compelling story.

One of the film’s more distracting elements is its soundtrack. The constant barrage of rock and techno music, meant to fuel the film’s extreme-sports-meets-spy-thriller vibe, quickly becomes grating. Instead of enhancing the action, it ends up overwhelming the senses, pulling attention away from the scenes themselves. Xander Cage’s weapons and gadgets, particularly his cartoonishly impractical toy gun, further the impression that this movie is playing in a sandbox of adolescent fantasies rather than delivering anything remotely grounded or credible.

That being said, the action sequences do deliver entertainment, even if they lack the finesse of better spy films. From high-speed chases to outrageous stunts, there’s plenty of eye candy for action aficionados. However, xXx has an unfortunate tendency to milk these sequences dry by showing them from multiple angles, making each stunt feel dragged out and repetitive. By the time the third or fourth replay of the same explosion or jump rolls around, the excitement begins to wane.

One of the biggest issues with xXx is its clear attempt to imitate the fun, sometimes cheesy, charm of older James Bond films—without any of the wit or sophistication. While Diesel’s Xander Cage is positioned as a “cooler,” more rebellious answer to Bond, the result falls flat. Rather than being a charming rogue, Cage comes off as a try-hard, relying on snarky one-liners and exaggerated stunts to win over the audience. Personally, if I were in the mood for a cheesy spy movie, I’d rather watch one of the actual Bond films that xXx is clearly trying to emulate.

In conclusion, while xXx delivers on action and spectacle, it ultimately fails to capture the same magic that Diesel and Cohen achieved with The Fast and the Furious. The film’s corny script, over-the-top music, and juvenile approach to the genre make it more of a guilty pleasure than a genuinely enjoyable film. While there’s some fun to be had watching Diesel lean into the absurdity of it all, xXx is the kind of movie you might enjoy once for its mindless entertainment but wouldn’t revisit if you’re looking for something more substantial.