Common Sense Media Review
Loud, violent, and predictable action movie.
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XXX: State of the Union
What's the Story?
In XXX: STATE OF THE UNION, Darius Stone (Ice Cube) is the new "Triple X" agent after the previous one, Vin Diesel's Xander Cage, is pronounced dead (he's never seen in this film). Darius is an independent-minded ex-Navy SEAL who was unfairly convicted after a previous mission went awry. While Darius is in prison, his former captain -- now with the NSA as Agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) -- recruits him to defend the United States against a coup led by Secretary of Defense Deckert (Willem Dafoe). Darius and his team -- including Zeke (Xzibit), Lola (Nona Gaye), Agent Steele (Scott Speedman), and gadget geek Agent Shavers (Michael Roof) -- battle through flashy scenes such as hijacking a tank in downtown D.C., sneaking onto an aircraft carrier, and blowing up a speeding bullet train. The battle for America's future is on, and Triple X agents rise to the patriotic occasion -- defying corrupt politicians and law enforcement as they do it.
Is It Any Good?
The plot of this sequel is simple enough, but Ice Cube makes a compelling action hero, more charming and complex than most. XXX: State of the Union's Darius holds his own against the extreme stunts of Vin Diesel in the prior film, displaying a stunning fearlessness as Darius infiltrates secret bunkers, jumps off bridges and onto flying helicopters, and takes part in heady car chases. If the outcome is never in question (after much mayhem, the heroes win), Darius' political position feels surprisingly nuanced for an action movie, especially in comparison to the flag-flying jingoism of Rob Cohen's XXX. Here, Darius and Agent Gibbons fight for U.S. values and ideals, but instead of a cartoonish Communist villain to take down, Triple X agents set their sights on an extremist faction with the U.S. government itself, led by the xenophobic Secretary of State. Seeing a Black-led team defy uniformed NSA agents on orders from Deckert -- to the lyrics of Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" and in the name of patriotism -- is a sight to behold. Still, XXX: State of the Union's optimistic message is achieved by loud, raucous, predictable action.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the threat against democratic ideals in XXX: State of the Union. Why do you think Secretary of Defense Deckert attacked the U.S. Capitol building? Why do you think NSA agents went along with attacking their own government? What would be a better way to show dissent?
Do you think this movie glamorizes violence? Why, or why not?
Both the film's heroes and villains use guns and explosives, sometimes killing people, in the name of freedom and patriotism. What ideas exactly are they fighting for? How would you define "freedom" and "patriotism"?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 29, 2005
- On DVD or streaming : July 26, 2005
- Cast : Ice Cube , Samuel L. Jackson , Scott Speedman
- Director : Lee Tamahori
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of intense action violence and some language
- Last updated : May 14, 2022
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