XXX

From paragliding to stunt motorcycle riding to snowboarding — to nearly every other board and wheeled sport you can imagine — there's almost nothing at which the title character of "xXx" doesn't excel.

Too bad his cinematic vehicle — a so-silly-it's-almost-entertaining thriller — can't say the same thing.

As you might have guessed from the film's trailer, this would-be "James Bond for the Extreme Generation" pic is one big, dumb action movie. Stress "dumb."

Which isn't to say the movie doesn't have its share of exciting scenes and amazing stunts. And despite his mumbly delivery, Vin Diesel takes another step forward toward establishing himself as a huge star.

But rather than emulating the better Bond films, "xXx" is more like "The Fast and the Furious," the dim-witted auto-theft thriller — an inexplicable hit — that also starred Diesel.

Here, Diesel re-teams with his "Furious" director, Rob Cohen, and stars as Xander Cage, an extreme-sports anarchist who is "recruited" by the NSA. Well, actually, they kidnap and coerce him into becoming a secret agent.

Facing the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence for his various outlaw antics, X agrees to infiltrate Anarchy '99, a group of former Russian Army soldiers who have become international terrorists.

X manages to cosy up to the group's leader, the charismatic but fanatical Yorgi (Marton Csokas). And though he gets evidence about Yorgi's scheme to use biological terrorism, his cover is blown. So his superior, Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson, providing welcome comic relief), tells X to come home. But there's a complication — he's become involved with a dissident, Yelena (Asia Argento), and feels he has to go back to get her, while stopping Yorgi before it's too late.

There are several wild stunts (some done by veteran trick riders and athletes), and extreme-sports fans will be amused to see cameos by Tony Hawk, Mat Hoffman and others. But Rich Wilkes' script is filled with cringe-inducing, cornball one-liners, and the quick-cut editing makes it difficult to tell what's going on in several key scenes. (The numerous replays of certain stunts is also pretty annoying).

As far as Diesel's performance is concerned, give him points for delivering his lines with a straight face, and for having the necessary physical presence to make the character convincing.

"xXx" is rated PG-13 for nonstop violence (extreme-sports action, gunplay and explosive mayhem), scattered use of profanity, drug content (tranquilizer use and the handling of cocaine), vulgarity (lewd dancing), a brief scene of torture and brief gore. Running time: 124 minutes.

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