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XXX: State of the Union

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Wikipedia article




'XXX: State of the Union' (released as 'XXX2: The Next Level' and 'XXX: State of Emergency' outside North America) is a 2005 American action spy film directed by Lee Tamahori and a sequel to the 2002 film 'XXX'. It is the second installment of the 'XXX' film series, and was produced by Revolution Studios for Columbia Pictures.

Vin Diesel and Rob Cohen, the lead actor and director of the original, had signed onto a sequel before the first film had opened, but both dropped out over scripting issues, while Cohen worked on 'Stealth'. Cohen remained as an executive producer. Ice Cube took over the lead role as the new Triple X agent and Tamahori was brought in to direct, following the huge commercial success of the James Bond film 'Die Another Day', which he directed. Two different scripts were prepared for the film, and the one written by Simon Kinberg was selected; the other script featured a radically different plot.

'State of the Union' was a box-office bomb and it was criticized by reviewers, mainly for the performances, an illogical story, and overuse of CGI-based visual effects for most of the action sequences. 'State of the Union' is the last film in the 'XXX' film series to be distributed by Columbia Pictures, as Paramount Pictures became the distributor for its future films, starting with 'XXX: Return of Xander Cage' in 2017.

Plot



In Virginia, unknown assailants breach into an NSA bunker beneath the horse ranch headed by Agent Augustus Gibbon who fends off the attackers before barely escaping with Toby Shavers. To find help and a XXX with more attitude, Gibbons meets with Lieutenant Darius Stone, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, who is currently 9-years into his 20-year sentence in Leavenworth for disobeying orders and breaking the jaw of ex-four star General George Deckert, who is now the Secretary of Defence. The investigation into the attack on the bunker is led by NSA Agent Kyle Steele, who is informed that concurrently Xander Cage was apparently killed in Bora Bora.

Gibbons helps break Stone out of prison, who then sets himself up as their leader due to his lack of trust in Gibbons. Leading them to Washington, Stone meets with Zeke, his old partner in crime, and Lola Jackson, his ex-girlfriend, who now runs an exotic car shop. Despite having moved on, Lola agrees to let Stone, Gibbons and Shavers hide in her shop in exchange for the '67 GTO Shavers modified, and a promise that Stone wouldn't interfere in her life. Stone then infiltrates the NSA bunker, where Gibbons instructed him to recover a hard drive, whilst Gibbons returns to his house to recover evidence. However he is attacked in his house by Deckert and Sergeant Alabama "Bama" Cobb, who destroy the house and apparently kill Gibbons whilst covering up the evidence. Stone meets up with Gibbons' contact, Charlie Mayweather, to get information. Charlie directs Stone to a party where Stone recognizes that Deckert's bodyguards are members of his old SEAL Team, before overhearing Deckert getting into an argument with General Jack Pettibone VCJCS. Stone goes to Charlie's safe house but is framed for the murder of General Jack Pettibone, who is apparently her father, realizing that she is involved.

The police arrive, and Steele arrives to talks with Stone before escaping. While Shavers hacks into the Pentagon to retrieve Deckert's plans, Steele researches Stone and discovers why he was in prison: Deckert ordered his SEAL team to start a fire to clear civilians, but Stone and half of the unit refused and mutinied, resulting in Stone punching Deckert and being court martialed. Stone infiltrates Deckert's troops aboard an aircraft carrier and discovers Gibbons alive, being held prisoner along with the rest of their SEAL team. Stone realises that the men who sided with him against Deckert 9 years ago are prisoners, whilst those who stayed loyal are Deckert's security. Stone's presence is alerted by Mayweather, forcing him to escape.

After retrieving the plans, Stone learns that Deckert is not only corrupt, but is planning a coup against President James Sanford. Stone makes contact with Steele and shows him the plans. When Steele notes that his plans are not clear proof, Stone leaves in frustration, to Steele's initial disbelief. During a conversation with Deckert, Steele realizes Stone was right. He finds Stone and tells him that Deckert wants to kill Sanford and his successors so he can take Sanford's place as President, in opposition to Sanford's current plans to dismantle various military branches to focus on foreign aid.

Unable to trust legitimate law enforcement, Stone, Steele, and Shavers enlist the aid of Zeke and his crew. Together, they rob a civilian truck secretly hauling guns and equipment for the Department of Homeland Security under the guise of a cheese truck. They end up hijacking a tank, and Stone helps Steele infiltrate the Capitol building. A shootout starts, and Gibbons kills Mayweather. Deckert and Cobb abduct Sanford while he is making the State of the Union Address, and with Gibbons now free they escape on a bullet train. Lola arrives with a Ford Shelby Cobra Concept, and Stone uses it to chase and infiltrate the train. He engages and kills Cobb before engaging Deckert, while Gibbons flies a helicopter which Steele extracts Sanford by. Stone jumps out after Gibbons derails and destroys the train, killing Deckert.

The story is covered up, and Deckert is buried and branded as a hero. Sanford awards Steele and the unknown soldier (Stone) the Medal of Honor. Stone is officially released from prison, and making good on his promise not to interfere with Lola's life, says his goodbyes and goes back to his former lifestyle. In the now-rebuilt NSA Headquarters, Gibbons, Steele, and Shavers discuss what kind of person the next Triple X agent should be.

Cast



* Ice Cube as Darius Stone

* Samuel L. Jackson as Augustus Gibbons

* Willem Dafoe as General George Deckert

* Scott Speedman as NSA Agent Kyle Steele

* Peter Strauss as President James Sanford

* Xzibit as Zeke

* Michael Roof as NSA Agent Toby Shavers

* Sunny Mabrey as Charlie Mayweather

* Nona Gaye as Lola Jackson

* John G. Connolly as Alabama Cobb

* Ramon De Ocampo as NSA Agent Meadows

Soundtrack



A soundtrack containing hip hop and alternative rock was released on April 26, 2005, through Jive Records. It peaked at #117 on the 'Billboard' 200, #48 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and #5 on the Top Soundtracks chart.

Sequel



Reception



Box office

'XXX: State of the Union' grossed $26.9 million in the United States and Canada and $44.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $71.1 million, against a reported production budget of $60 million. According to 'The Wrap.com' the production budget was a reported $87 million, but Revolution Studios spent a total of $113.1 million.

It opened on April 29, 2005 and grossed $12.7 million in its opening weekend, finishing third at the box office.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 17%, based on 137 reviews, with an average rating of 3.84/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Even more absurd and implausible than the first 'xXx' movie, 'State of the Union' is less inspired and technically competent than its predecessor." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 37%, based on reviews from 31 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade B+ on scale of A to F.

Boo Allen of the Denton Record Chronicle called Ice Cube's XXX character "a chubby, surly, incomprehensible action hero". Brian Orndorf of FilmJerk.com compared watching the film to running "headfirst at top speed into a brick wall". David Hiltbrand of the 'Philadelphia Inquirer' said "the plot swings between pathetically implausible and aggressively stupid".http://ae.philly.com/entertainment/ui/philly/movie.html?id=301309&reviewId=17886 Some critics liked the film. Mack Bates of the 'Milwaukee Journal Sentinel' praised Ice Cube's "trademark charisma and street sensibility,"http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=322097 while Owen Gleiberman of 'Entertainment Weekly' called it "that rare B movie thats rooted in gut-level stirrings of power and retaliation". Paul Arendt of the BBC said, "Viewed on its own trashy terms, it succeeds brilliantly".

References




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