Vin Diesel's Action-Packed Thriller Delivers a Nostalgic Blast from the Past!
Vin Diesel's Extreme Spy Movie Is A Hilarious Blast from the Past, offering a thrilling and action-packed adventure Is this his most unforgettable character yet?
Vin Diesel is laudable for successfully building a career centered around entertaining self-insert characters. In addition to Groot, his most memorable performances are akin to his own cringe-worthy teenage original characters. Dom Toretto, Richard B. Riddick, and even his own Dungeons and Dragons creation Kaulder seem to predominantly exist because they exemplify aspects that Diesel enjoys implying about himself. To this roster, we can add Xander Cage from the renowned Triple X series.
Spy movies encompass a vast range of styles. Films such as "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" do not neatly fall into the same category. While Triple X shares similarities with the Mission: Impossible franchise, it slightly deviates by placing a greater emphasis on extreme sports rather than conventional espionage, possibly pushing it to the outer limits of the genre spectrum.
What is Triple X about?
Triple X follows Xander Cage, Vin Diesel's version of James Bond. He is a renowned celebrity in extreme sports, excelling in every competition imaginable. He possesses exceptional driving abilities, can ace any Olympic event, and conquer any challenge in the X-Games. His dialogue consists mainly of catchy one-liners, though they are often incomplete sentences. His body is adorned with tattoos that reflect his playful nickname. Due to his radical political views and protest actions against a corrupt conservative politician, he is wanted by the FBI. Xander's criminal record includes stealing a senator's car and driving it off a cliff. Despite being destined for federal prison, he is given a chance to escape by high-ranking NSA agent Augustus Gibbons.
Anarchy 99, a Russian terrorist group, has obtained a deadly bioweapon called Silent Night. The NSA's undercover operative is uncovered and killed, leaving the intelligence agency powerless. Gibbons realizes that they need someone with no governmental affiliations to infiltrate Anarchy 99. Xander Cage, a prominent athlete with known rebellious tendencies, is deemed the perfect candidate. Reluctantly, he joins the NSA team in Prague and encounters Yorgi, the leader of Anarchy 99. Through their shared interest in cars and women, a bond forms between them. Assisted by tech expert Toby, Cage penetrates the ranks of the terrorist organization. To prevent Anarchy 99 from unleashing a devastating plague upon the world, Xander Cage must employ his stealth, skills, and daring stunts.
What is Triple X's Rotten Tomatoes Score?
Triple X has a positive score of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, slightly higher at 58% for the audience. The average critical score stands at 5.6 out of 10. Interestingly, both the negative and positive reviews share similar opinions. Most critics acknowledge the film's lack of intellectual depth, considering it merely a silly thrill ride with nothing unique. Broadly speaking, critics agree that Triple X contributes nothing new to the spy genre, heavily relying on borrowed narratives and action set pieces. The scores vary depending on how seriously critics address these issues. Triple X does not deceive anyone; it is clear in its intentions. The film promotes Vin Diesel's absurd stunts and one-liners and offers nothing more.
Triple X was never meant to be critically acclaimed; its target audience primarily consists of 12-year-olds, often at slumber parties. It is a humorous watch for those who do not take it seriously and a mindless indulgence for those who embrace it on its own terms. Since the 80s, there have been numerous films filling this particular niche. Fans of the genre will enjoy Triple X, although there are many better examples available. Its greatest value lies in being a time capsule of the early 2000s. By comparing Dominic Toretto in Fast X to Xander Cage in Triple X, one can see the stark differences that reflect the evolving corporate definition of cool over a span of 21 years.
Are there other Triple X movies?
The sequel to the first film, Triple X: State of the Union, was released in 2005. Initially, Vin Diesel and director Rob Cohen were set to be involved in the sequel, but they backed out due to disagreement over the script. Lee Tamahori, the director of Die Another Day, took over instead to bring some James Bond expertise to the franchise. Unfortunately, State of the Union was a commercial failure and received negative reviews, mostly because it deviated from the practical effects that made the original film enjoyable. Twelve years later, a different studio released Triple X: Return of Xander Cage, which became the highest-grossing film in the franchise. However, it still fell short in terms of critical reception compared to the original. Ironically, Triple X found itself being unfavorably compared to the beloved Fast and Furious series, highlighting its lack of significance.
Triple X serves as a reminder of how time can diminish the value of trends. The only aspect of the franchise that has stood the test of time is its impressive stunts, which were the only redeeming quality of the film when it first premiered in 2002. Among all of Vin Diesel's characters, Xander Cage is now seen as the most amusing one to reflect upon.
