Opened: August 9, 2002

Directed by: Rob Cohen

Starring: Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, William Hope, Danny Trejo, Asia Argento, Marton Csokas, Michael Roof, Richy Müller, Werner Daehn, Petr Jákl, Jan Pavel Filipensky, Tom Everett, Thomas Ian Griffith, Leila Arcieri & Eve

A rougher entry into the spy genre, Vin Diesel has the brawns for the lead role but a stunted script leaves much to be desired from the story.

Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) recruits Xander Cage (Diesel) to work with the National Security Agency to blend in better than some of their former American recruits. Xander befriends Yorgi (Marton Csokas), a leader of a militant anarchist group, to help take down his plans of destruction.

If you’re looking for an action film and are more into explosions than anything else, this is the right film. Diesel’s character performs many death-defying stunts that will have your mouth gaping open with shock and awe.

However, the script doesn’t take anything seriously with a coherent story taking a backseat to the action.

Final say: Explosive but lacking. ★★☆☆☆