By Travis Johnson
It’s hard to say if anyone was clamouring for another sequel to 2002’s xXx, but we’re getting one anyway. 2005’s xXx: State of the Union was a long time ago, and didn’t even star Vin Diesel (sorry, Ice Cube), but the third in the extreme-sports-themed action franchise rectifies that by putting Diesel’s laconic hero in charge of what appears to be a whole team of similarly-inclined thrillseekers.
Samuel L. Jackson is back in the ring as Vin’s CIA handler, joining newcomers Toni Collette, Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, Nina Dobrev, Ruby Rose and Tony Jaa. The presence of Yen and Jaa at least promises some top-knotch martial arts action.
The whole thing looks goofy as hell, but it also seems to be self aware enough to embrace its inherent outlandishness, which will be a saving grace if it proves true. xXx: Return of Xander Cage hits Australian cinemas on January 19, 2017.
