xXx

There is nothing wrong with the entertainment value of this cracker of an action film, in which the charismatic Vin Diesel is lined up as our era's answer to James Bond. He plays Xander Cage, and this tattooed, shaven-headed extreme sports enthusiast has little in common with the elegant, tuxedo-clad agent. He is also mouthy and anarchic.

Things are not going well for the American intelligence agency, the NSA, which has had three agents killed on a mission in Prague. It is clearly time for a change of approach. A series of dubious characters are put to the test, and Xander passes with flying colours. He is therefore given the choice between a spell in the slammer or risking his life as a secret agent. Xander has a somewhat strained relationship with authority, but since he is a free spirit, his choice comes as no surprise.

In the Czech capital, Xander is tasked with gathering information about the group Anarchy 99, which controls a large part of the city's underworld activities. That is not what worries the USA, however, but rather the group's top-secret plans, which could have far-reaching consequences.

xXx is tough action, but the film suffers from pandering to the ultimate laddish crowd. As a result, some of the lines are at times head-shakingly infantile, and you would have to look long and hard for more stereotypical villains. "You're in Xander Zone". Yeah, right. Apart from these slip-ups, the film's appeal is understandable.