Everybody's a critic - 'XXX'

Three stars

Ever wonder what James Bond would be like on steroids? If so, then "Triple X" (aka, XXX) is your kind of film.

Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) is an extreme sports athlete who thrives on the ultimate adrenaline rush. He is recruited (drugged and blackmailed) by a National Security Agency agent named Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson). Cage soon finds himself immersed in a game of cat and mouse with a band of Russian extremists.

Vin Diesel is definite eye candy for the ladies, while the men can equally drool over the scantily clad women. The movie delivers many over-the-top stunts, but the plot is hardly original.

"The Fast and The Furious" star has already made quite an impression on society or I might have simply mistaken the four young bald men seated two rows down as an unlikely coincidence. - Barbara Hanscom, data entry clerk

One star

Webster defines pornography as obscene writings, drawings, photography or the like, especially those having little or no artistic merit. We also commonly refer to it as XXX. That certainly describes this movie.

The market research for "XXX" had to have been done in front of a 7-Eleven. I was hoping the guy killed in the opening scene was Vin Diesel so I could go home, but no, I was put through two hours of Diesel "doin' the dew." The action was so-so for a while, but then got boring as the stunts just got too James Bond. Nobody does it better than 007, no matter how hip you are.

Diesel delivered his lines like he trained for acting on "Hee Haw," reading off cue cards, and sounded as if he had a mouthful of eggs. Oddly enough (for me) I did like the soundtrack even though the decibel level was excruciating.- Dan Braswell, utility worker

Two-and-a-half stars

"Mission Impossible" meets "Die Hard." What a guy flick!

My brother couldn't wait for the release of "XXX." He sat entranced for the duration of the show with the complimentary "No way" and "Far outs" uttered occasionally.

I must admit, however, that I didn't completely dislike this movie myself. It was captivating with plenty of special effects and stunts. The story has been a bit overdone, but all in all not a horrible way to spend an afternoon.

Vin Diesel plays a misunderstood extreme sports athlete who needs a way to focus his talents. The government offers him a trade: Complete restitution for a little of his time. Like I said, a bit overdone.

If you have dragged your husband to a few too many syrupy movies, this is your chance to make it up to him without punishing yourself too much.

- Tabitha Cox, receptionist