xXx The Return of Xander Cage | Film Review

Think xXx and you expect high octane, fast paced action and thrills. Well, this one was has got all that and more, with Vin Diesel as Xander Cage doing his thing with an easygoing vibe. But, the third instalment of this popular franchise belongs to our very own Deepika Padukone. And no, this ain't just about her smokin' hot looks.  

If you haven't seen any film from the franchise, don't fret. You don't need to connect the dots here, as the film does a decent job of establishing all the characters and their past. Xander Cage (Vin Diesel), a sports enthusiast turned government operative, was left dead after an incident. However, he is back and is now recruited by the CIA, in order to recover a destructive weapon from the hands of a dexterous gang. Xander Cage gets his best folks together to form a team and fight against this skilled gang. However, the gang has it's own secrets, and the road ahead is full of deceit, traps and conspiracies. Will this be a successful mission for Xander Cage? You gotta watch the film to find out. The plot is quite predictable, but the film has got some high points that stand out.

It's easy to get into the groove of this mad roller coaster right from the start (and we have also got Neymar Jr to thank for an incredible opening). Needless to say, you can expect extreme, high voltage action sequences that are performed across air, water and land. The incredible stunts, chase sequences are sure to give the audience an adrenaline rush. BG music is great. Robert Lydecker and Brian Tyler's score perfectly compliments the action packed visuals. One of the highlights of this film has got to be the casting. Each cast member delivers an honest performance, and gets into the shoes of their respective character quite well. Rest of the cast, including Rory McCann and Toni Collette, are good.

Donnie Yen as Xiang heads the notorious skilled gang and delivers an exceptional performance. We have seen his impeccable use of martial arts in Rogue One and once again, he raises the bar with his act in xXx, which is worthy of a special mention. Ruby Rose as the no-nonsense, badass Adele Wolff is superb. Kris Wu as the cool Harvards Zhou and Tony Jaa as Talon both perform well. Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries fame) as Becky Clearidge is adorable. She brings up a few memorable, humorous moments in the film. Samuel L Jackson, who reprises his role as Gibbons, is wonderful as always.

The man himself - Vin Diesel as Xander Cage is impressive. When he is not jumping off a tower or skating across the city, Diesel's Xander Cage is a relaxed, charming and easy going fella. However, the film is incomplete without a mention of the other hero - Deepika Padukone. No, this is not one of those 'blink and miss' roles that you think it would be. Padukone plays a pivotal role and has certainly announced her arrival on the international shores with a bang. The actress casts a spell with her sensuous looks, expressive eyes and fine act, right from the first time we get a glimpse of the sharp Serena Unger on screen. Along with Ruby Rose's Adele, Padukone's Serena smashes the bad boys with her fierce kicks, punches and fires heavy artillery, like a boss. But, what we particularly liked was the fact that her performance was natural, void of any pretentiousness. There wasn't any unnecessary accent or exaggeration (something we had pointed out around the trailer launch as well). With this remarkable performance in her international debut, Padukone has proved why she is easily one of the best performers in the Indian film industry. And now, the world is her oyster. 

xXx The Return of Xander Cage may not be one of the best action films we have come across. However, this one's got enough entertainment to keep you on the edge of your seat for 109 minutes. Give it a watch for the fine performances, extraordinary stunts and Deepika Padukone's marvellous international debut.

Verdict: Guns, Global Domination and Deepika Padukone! Pretty much sums it up.
Go watch for some action packed entertainment!

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The Dancebee