xXx: Return of Xander Cage

After his debut in 2002, Vin Diesel's high-flying government agent returns after years in hiding to find a device that is turning satellites into deadly weapons. Macho exploitation is the order of the day in a film that is breathtakingly bad. From the Carry On-level script to the convoluted action scenes, this spy caper seems out-of-date even by it's own far-fetched standards. Every twist in the plot seems like a reason to blow up another exotic locale in a manner so cynical that it's hard to enjoy. Diesel glares through much of the proceedings, while talented performers such as Toni Collette and Donnie Yen are reduced to mediocre clichés. The muddied morality of the story also furthers the notion that we are here to see stunts rather than a coherent piece of cinema. These types of films are genetically engineered for sequels, but it's hard to think of anyone who would want to see more of this tosh.