The way they incorporate their "recruitment program" into the movie is fun and original, and though Vin Diesel doesn't really "act" in it, it's a lot of fun to watch.
Though it is basically another "generic action flick", the twists that they add to it make it worth watching. Look, I'm not going to pretend that this is some sort of masterpiece. For pure action, the movie succeeds because, in the end, it does entertain which is the name of the game. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger before him, and Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris and then "The Rock," these kind of muscle-men have fairly clean mouths and at least some ideals. Also, an even more-recent theme is to have the government actually employ the rebel to get the job done because their men are unable to accomplish what this ultra-tattooed macho man can do! It's so much garbage, but it has its moments and Diesel still is a likable hero of sorts. You can always depend on one thing in these type of movies, from the "biker movies" of the '50s to today's films: the hero will always be a rebel against authority and any laws of the land. However, they are undeniably entertaining.
Unfortunately, a number of these testosterone-filled action films, including this one, are somewhat moronic in nature. Like "The Rock," he's a big, muscular macho guy who men can look upon with some respect and the ladies can fall for. Vin Diesel is a pretty good guy to play these new action-heroes.