Film

xXx: State of the Union

A mid-2000s action-adventure sequel that trades exotic locations for Washington DC intrigue. Ice Cube replaces Vin Diesel as the new XXX agent, bringing hip-hop swagger to spy-thriller plots. Gloriously silly, unapologetically fun, and exactly as interested in extreme sports cameos as actual espionage. Made for people who love action films that don't take themselves seriously.

TMDb rating2.6

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want a brisk, cheerfully ridiculous gadget-and-stunt caper where the hero's swagger is the point and the plot never asks you to take it seriously.

Skip it if you need tight plotting or a restrained lead; the logic is loose, the set pieces do the heavy lifting, and the jokes land unevenly.

What it asks of you: Barely a hundred minutes long, it sprints from set piece to set piece and rarely pauses, so bring a light appetite and leave your expectations at the door.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

The Fast and the Furious2001

Both films celebrate rebellious protagonists drawn into high-stakes missions by a magnetic handler figure. Samuel L. Jackson here echoes the role of gathering misfits for impossible jobs. Pure adrenaline and charisma over coherence.

But The first Fast film is tighter and more focused. This sequel's plot genuinely doesn't hold up to scrutiny if you're looking for logical spy-thriller plotting.

The Fast and the Furious poster

Agent Cody Banks2003

A fellow mid-2000s action-comedy that knows exactly what it is—fun, absurd, unconcerned with realism. Both films prioritize spectacle and humor over credibility. Great if you want to just enjoy the ride.

But It's aimed at kids, which some find precious rather than endearing. The comedy lands differently if you're not in the mood for slapstick energy.

Agent Cody Banks poster

National Treasure2004

Nicolas Cage and Nicolas Cage energy in a heist film that treats impossible plotting as a feature, not a bug. Same DNA: charismatic lead, globe-trotting adventure, romance subplot, and total confidence in its own ridiculousness.

But The plot is deliberately convoluted and the historical elements are hokum. If you need things to make sense, this will frustrate you.

National Treasure poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from xXx: State of the Union

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Undercover Brother2002

Ice Cube shares more DNA with this film than with mainstream spy-thriller tradition. Both films are celebrations of a specific cultural moment and aesthetic.

An action-comedy explicitly built on Black pop culture, blaxploitation riffs, and Ice Cube's peer group's sensibility. Eddie Griffin and Dave Chappelle in a film that understands cool as a primary tool. Energetic, funny, and genuinely distinctive in voice.

But The humor is very specifically pitched at early-2000s Black comedy sensibilities. If that era of comedy doesn't land for you, the whole film feels dated and broad.

Undercover Brother poster
More like this (7)

Stealth2005

Released the same year, another military-adjacent action film with military brass, betrayal, and an AI gone rogue. Josh Lucas and the ensemble cast commit fully to absurd set pieces. That same mid-2000s blockbuster confidence.

But The military sci-fi plot is genuinely confused about what it wants to be. Critics hated it then and haven't warmed since.

Stealth poster

Ride Along2014

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube reunite here with Hart as the hyperactive rookie opposite Cube's weary veteran. If you enjoy Cube's comic timing in XXX, this whole film builds on that chemistry. Buddy-cop energy that actually works.

But It's a straightforward buddy-cop film with familiar plot beats. If you're tired of the formula, there's nothing here to subvert it.

Ride Along poster

Tropic Thunder2008

An action-comedy that understands excess and commits to it. RDJ and Ben Stiller in a film that's in on the joke about action movie absurdity in ways that feel similar to this film's self-aware ridiculousness.

But The humor is meaner and weirder than XXX. Some of the satire hasn't aged perfectly.

Tropic Thunder poster

Johnny English2003

Rowan Atkinson as a bumbling spy in a film that's pure comedy-action comfort food. Same era, same willingness to be silly, same focus on watching a charismatic performer stumble through impossible situations.

But The comedy is rooted in physical humiliation and slapstick. If you prefer action with edge, this is too soft-hearted.

Johnny English poster

Kingsman: The Secret Service2015

A sleek update on the spy-action-comedy formula with visual flair and genuine wit. Matthew Vaughn brings style to the kind of over-the-top plotting that XXX commits to earnestly. Charming and violent in equal measure.

But It's considerably more violent and sexual than this film, and more cynical. The style can feel show-offy.

Kingsman: The Secret Service poster

Ride Along 22016

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube return, now in Miami with bigger set pieces and even looser plotting. A pure good-time action-comedy sequel that understands what worked the first time and leans harder into it.

But It's more of the same without much innovation. The novelty wears thin if you didn't love the first one.

Ride Along 2 poster

Police Story 21988

XXX is attempting American action filmmaking on Jackie Chan's terms—prioritizing physicality, star charisma, and the sheer pleasure of watching someone do impossible things over narrative logic.

Jackie Chan's Hong Kong action classic that redefined what action filmmaking could be. Insanely choreographed set pieces, genuine comedy, and a star who does everything himself. The blueprint for action films that prioritize spectacle and joy over plot.

But It's from 1988, subtitled, and the plot is genuinely thin. The age and language barrier will alienate some; others will find the rawness crucial to its power.

Police Story 2 poster

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