XXX:Return of Xander Cage. Review on xXx: Return of Xander Cage

Actually, popcorn alone wouldn’t suffice for the film’s nonstop barrage of high-octane action sequences that make you feel like you’re burning calories simply watching them. From its opening sequence featuring Xander skiing through a jungle and skateboarding down a steep mountain road to its climactic battle in a plummeting aircraft resulting in zero-gravity conditions for the combatants, this is a pic that demands the accompaniment of nachos, hot dogs, candy and soda(the non-diet variety) as well.

To its credit, the film, directed by D.J. Caruso(Disturbia, Eagle Eye), definitely has its tongue not only in its cheek, but practically rammed down its throat. It begins with an amusing sequence in which Xander’s former boss Augustus Gibbons(Jackson, going wildly over the top) attempts to recruit real-life Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr. for his organization, only to be killed by the explosion of a fallen satellite shortly thereafter.

'xXx: Return of Xander Cage'

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It turns out that the satellite has been brought down by a device known as Pandora’s Box, the picture of which should be included in the dictionary definition of “McGuffin.” And the only one who can retrieve it, naturally, is Xander Cage, despite the fact that he’s dead, or, at least, starring in the Fast and Furious movies.

Well, not really. Xander is actually hanging out in the Dominican Republic, where he’s apparently beloved by the local population. He’s brought back into action by icy CIA operative Jane Marke(Toni Collette, sporting a severe hairdo and seemingly channeling Joan Crawford), who offers him a back-up team of hard-boiled military types. Xander responds to the offer by ejecting them from the back of a plane.

Instead, he puts together his own group, which seems to have been assembled for maximum international box-office appeal. They include heavily tattooed sniper Adele Wolff(Ruby Rose, Orange Is the New Black); crazed stunt driver Tennyson(Rory McCann, Game of Thrones); sexily nerdy IT specialist Becky(Nina Dobrev, The Vampire Diaries), so immediately smitten with Xander that she informs him her “safe word” is “cumquat”; and Nicks(Kris Wu), whose chief skill seems to be as a DJ.

There’s another crew of badasses who at first seem like villains before forming an alliance with Xander’s gang. They’re made up of martial-arts expert Xiang(Chinese superstar Donnie Yen); the dangerous, and dangerously sexy, Serena(Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone); British ex-Special Forces member Hawk(UFC and MMA fighter Michael Bisping); and blonde, Mohawk-sporting Talon(Thai martial arts star Tony Jaa).

Vin Diesel and Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone in'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage'

ose effortless charisma and dazzling martial arts skills signify that he’s long overdue for a Hollywood vehicle of his own. Such other supporting players as Rose and Dobrev certainly seem to be having fun, and there’s an amusing cameo that probably won’t prove much of a surprise for fans of the series.

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Production companies: Revolution Studios, RK Films, One Race Films

Cast: Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, Kris Wu, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev, Rory McCann, Ton