xXx: Return Of Xander Cage review: Deepika and Vin share crackling chemistry in this action-filled entertainer

Director: DJ Caruso
Cast: Vin Diesel, Deepika Padukone, Ruby Rose, Toni Collette, Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev, Samuel L Jackson

What's it about:

A device that has satellites dropping out of orbit at terminal velocity, conveniently nicknamed Pandora's Box, is stolen from under the nose of the NSA after they nick it from its inventor. The unnamed group that steals the device escapes with no loss their lives and escapes to an island in the Phillippines. 
One fallen satellite lands where Augustus Gibbons (Jackson) of the xXx program is pitching for star footballer Neymar Jr to join xXx. As Gibbons is presumed dead, Jane Marke (Collette) of the NSA is tasked with getting another (presumed dead) xXx asset (and all-round legend of the franchise) Xander Cage (Diesel). 
Man hops on board to save the world, but is keen on working with his own gang -- a sharp-shooter Adele (Rose), a DJ with mad social skills Nicks (Kris Wu) and a stuntman with a need for adrenaline rushes via crashes Tennyson (Rory McCann). 
They quickly track down Xiang (Yen) and his gang -- Serena Unger (Padukone), Talon (Jaa) and Hawk (Michael Bisping). Proverbial sh*t hits fan after Xander and Xiang play 'hot potato' with the sexy Serena and a couple of grenades and the Russians crash the party. 
A little intrigue follows as they find out who are their friends and who are their enemies....

What's hot:

That a beloved franchise is back after what seems like too long. It's mad, mad action-filled fun for the most part, thrill-filled to the core. Deepika makes a confident debut opposite Vin, no less. And she's there for most of the movie... and that's worth celebrating. Moreover, she's no damsel in distress that needs saving. And that's a step forward, of sorts. Her scenes with Vin are crackling with chemistry, but it is the back-and-forth with Ruby Rose and the sparring lines they trade that really catch your ear. Nina Dobrev as the talkative, bumbling assistant/ Woman Friday is efficient and sufficiently funny.

What's not:

Here we go. Everything seems like an inside joke. Right from the cross-country skating (to catch a football match on cable no less, which is just plain cuckoo) to the part where Xander shoots into a crowd when ambushed in broad daylight to throwing people bigger than him off jumbo-sized planes to those 'X always takes of their own' lines and one very unexpected cameo, it's a never-ending melee of cheesy cut-shots, kooky meet-cutes, over-the-top action scenes and surmised disasters (how very Armageddon of you, Mr Caruso, to pluck satellites out of the sky with a mere click!). And did we actually need a re-run of a family action movie that comes together a la that classier action movie about fast-driving and furious-talking people? The screenplay comes with heavy doses of cheese.
PS: Don't be surprised if the otherwise efficient Toni Collette wins a Razzie for this one. 

What to do:

Watch this one for Deepika and Vin if you're fans of the two. The action parts are fine and in good measure.  It's a film that's supremely confident of what it is. And that shows. And if you're looking to be entertained, you will be. Just don't tax your brain with the way this film plays out. Trust me, you'll get a headache.

Rating: ***