Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dumb story, outrageous stunts, objectified women.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
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?
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
- In theaters : January 20, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : May 16, 2017
- Cast : Vin Diesel , Donnie Yen , Deepika Padukone
- Director : D.J. Caruso
- Inclusion Information : Multiracial Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : extended sequences of gunplay and violent action, and for sexual material and language
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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