Parents' Guide to

xXx: Return of Xander Cage

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Dumb story, outrageous stunts, objectified women.

Movie PG-13 2017 107 minutes
xXx: Return of Xander Cage Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

JOSEPHMENGELE67
JOSEPHMENGELE67 Adult
June 3, 2020
age 14+

Excellent

I think parents should be checking their kids but if they happens to find something out of the ordinary that is or will end up in something bad for them, the parents should be authoritative in their actions against the violation and explain them why their action will affect them and other uhh sss. Every action will always produce a reaction. To do it or not to do it same as what the Great Shakespeare said "To be or to be". Parents should show their kids that they (the parents) are kids friend the first ones to be ready to help them through something I came upon one night during a U.S. Army self imposed drill saw what I think applies to everything in life. A wall poster at a Douglas, AZ Karate Martial Arts School wall which reflects a important SHAOLIN philosophic teaching RESPECT, INTEGRITY AND DISCIPLINE. I think these trilogy is our and should always be EARTH (Jumans) base. Blessings and Salam from the High Power--I AM THE ONE THAT I AM. THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB--ISRAEL. GOD KINGDOM IS HIS FOR ALL THE ETERNITY OF ETERNITIES.....

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Miley O.
Miley O. Parent
January 20, 2017
age 10+

Great

My sister children loved it they were laughing so much

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In XXX: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE, the XXX division of the NSA has been growing for the last decade-plus, with Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) continuing to recruit new agents. While he's talking to a one (soccer star Neymar Jr.), a satellite crashes and explodes nearby, with disastrous consequences. And a mysterious squad (Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, Michael Bisping, and Tony Jaa) steals the device, called "Pandora's Box," that controlled the satellite. Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) comes out of retirement to avenge Gibbons and retrieve Pandora's Box. He assembles his own team (Ruby Rose, Kris Wu, and Rory McCann) and discovers that the "thieves" are actually members of XXX. So they all team up to stop the real bad guy, who hopes to re-purpose the evil technology to spy on everyday citizens. But to survive the final battle, the team will need a little more help...

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (9):

Like its predecessors, this action sequel is heavy on stunts, noise, fights, shoot-outs, and the objectification of women -- but very light in the areas of writing or intelligence. In other words, not much has changed since XXX (2002) or XXX: State of the Union (2005) -- the latter of which starred Ice Cube rather than Diesel -- and it's pretty much business as usual in xXx: State of the Union. (Perhaps the goal is to jump-start it into a franchise as lucrative as the Fast & Furious one has been?)

The stunts in xXx: Return of Xander Cage are outrageous -- including a jump from a tall tower, skiing through the jungle, surfing on a motorcycle, and weightless fighting in a nose-diving plane -- and, yes, worth seeing. But it gets tiresome listening to all the characters trying to out-cool each other, watching the camera wander up and down the bodies of every pretty woman on screen, and listening to loud, throbbing music every two minutes. The screenplay by F. Scott Frazier doesn't even try.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about xXx: Return of Xander Cage's violence. Does the fact that it's relatively bloodless affect its impact? Why or why not?

  • Does the movie objectify women? Would you say any of the female characters are there for any reason besides their looks? What issues does that raise related to body image?

  • Do you agree or disagree with Xander's assertion that there are no more patriots, only tyrants and rebels?

  • Are any of the characters here role models? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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