Product: xXx [VHS] (2002)
Rating: 4.0
Babes, bombs and bad guys...
I remember back what Vin Diesel had a career. Everything he touched was box-office gold because every man in America wanted to be just like him. Every woman got chills when he opened his mouth. I remember how every time I'd watch `The Fast and the Furious' I'd go on a diet and start working out like crazy for about a week because I just HAD to look like Vin.Anyways, he's kind of a big `nothing' now, but back in the early 00's he was surprisingly relevant.`xXx' was an attempt at landing him a franchise. I kind of wish that he had stuck with it (instead of handing the reigns over to Ice Cube) because this `Bond flick on acid' is a whole heap of fun, even if it teeters on ridiculous most of the time.The film revolves around adrenaline junkie Xander Cage who has reached fame thanks to his internet exploits of reckless abandon. When he racks up far too many `law violations' he is drafted by a government agency looking to make him an `expendable' agent. He is trained and then shipped halfway across the world to gain access to a Czech baddie who plans on wrecking lethal havoc on the world. Thanks to his `attitude' and noteworthy fearlessness, Xander fits rather nicely into this world in which he is thrust, and he almost immediately starts getting things done. But, no matter how confident he is, this is most certainly unlike anything he's gotten himself into before.The action scenes are pretty good, if not a little predictable at times. The dialog is in serious need of a reboot, but it's forgivable (one-liners are to be expected). The plot is kind of a mess, and it is far from believable, but we don't neccisarily want `believable' in this kind of film.I shelled out money a few times to see this in the theater.Vin Diesel does what he needs to in order to make this work. He's got swag, and he has a believability about him that aids in creating this character. You believe that he is like this in real life. Sadly, he doesn't really play any other type of character, but whatever. Asia Argento is seriously hot, and this movie introduced me to her and got me salivating all over my lap, so for that I am eternally thankful. She compliments Diesel here, matching him step for step. Marton Csokas is a believable baddie, although he could have amped it up a bit. Samuel L. Jackson phones it in, but he's been phoning it in since the late 90's (he was so brilliant once...).In the end, the explosions and flesh baring beauties make this film a must-see for any action film junkie. It is NOT smart and it is NOT great, but it is fun and exciting and, most importantly, entertaining.For what it is, it deserves a B.