Diesel fuels movie's appeal (From Western Telegraph)

Diesel fuels movie's appeal

xXx Directed by Rob Cohen Starring Vin Diesel, Asia Argento. Cert. 15, Dur. 123 mins

Despite the hype around this week's main film, it is really not that good. The hype around 'xXx' (to be spoken as 'Triple X') is mostly surrounding its star, Vin Diesel. He has shot up from nowhere to demand Hollywood payday's rivalling the biggest stars, in just a couple of mediocre movies. The question is, is he worth it?

'xXx' seeks to leapfrog James Bond by being an action-spy movie in its dumbest form. This is a film for the computer game-skate-surf-extreme sports generation of teens. And replacing the suave 007, they have the ultimate star in Vin Diesel, like a WWF wrestler, hard rock-rapper with a name that sounds too suspiciously made-up to sound hard. Vin Diesel does have a great screen presence but like the coherence of the script for xXx, it comes and goes.

The film starts with a tuxedo clad, slightly camp, 'James Bond-alike' being killed and hoisted above the heads of revellers at a nightclub. This isn't subtle, clearly declaring that for the new youth, Bond is outdated and that while he's run riot across the globe for decades doing away with the meanest roughest toughest bad guys, he would be torn apart in seconds in this night club. 'xXx' seeks not only to send a message to a target audience here but also to flatter them, creating them as a generation of 'hyper teens' who all have gadgets, sleep around, party and play hard. So, apart from a clear complexion and a fast car what does the old guy in the dinner jacket have that they don't?

Enter a new hero.

Vin Diesel plays Xander Cage, an extreme sports star who is recruited into the American secret service. He doesn't do this willingly, but under threat of prison. He then embarks on a rampage of stunt sequences around Prague mostly, where, despite being in a land-locked location, a stock evil loony is building a submarine that must be destroyed. There is also a great looking girl who must be saved but, as in the bond movies, she's merely a window dressing.

'xXx' is an MTV pop video version of a Bond film with an over inflated Robbie Williams/Bruce Willis cross, leaping around as much as computer generated imaging will allow. It's fast and furious and I'm sure it'll do well, but not as well as the studio hoped, having banked so heavily on the appeal of Diesel. What they neglected to realise is that you wouldn't sit watching him sleep for two hours and therefore, his presence on screen isn't the only prerequisite to a good film. He has to be partner to good story, good script, and great direction. With less to do in this film his talents are laid bare and he's left wanting. Screen presence? Yes... in places. But while his size and power make him a 'real' superman... I'm afraid I was left with Diesel driving an old dumper truck of a movie instead of a cleaner fuel (something like Pierce Brosnan's Bond) in a supercharged Ferrari.

VAUGHAN sivell