The follow up to the box-office success of xXx is a disappointment, on the whole. The absence of Vin Diesel lessens the star appeal of the sequel and certainly is a loss for the female audience. But this film is mainly aimed at action-loving aficionados of any age.

The beginning of the film introduces the new XXX, Darius Stone (Ice Cube). He is sent to Washington, DC where he must track a dangerous military splinter group, that is conspiring to overthrow the US Government. They really needn't have bothered.

The promising opening is quickly undermined by the unnecessarily complex story line. The majority of the plot will go over the heads of the film's target audience - twelve year old boys. The XXX team should concentrate on their elaborate stunts which have gained them such a devoted following. The film's formulaic structure holds no surprises. The frequent shots of scantily clad women are reminiscent of a rapper's music video. With a glaringly appalling script ('Goddamnit, 16 men dead. How many more have to die?') and equally weak cast one has to question Samuel L. Jackson's state of mind when he agreed to star in this film. It certainly reduces his credibility rating to zero in our eyes.

The attempt to sustain the interest of the already small female audience by the suggestion of a weak and unconnected love story falls flat on its face. If the film had any redeemable factor it was it's driving, up-tempo soundtrack. A mixture of rap and heavy metal it suits the theme and is easy on the ear.

Overall, we view xXx 2 as two hours in our lives that we will never get back, but if you share the mindset of a twelve-year-old boy, it's probably worth a watch.

Ann-Marie Gannon and Clare O'Reilly

XXX2 is released on 29th April 2005.
www.xxx2-movie.co.uk - The Official Website