Fiery explosions and custom vehicles steal XXX: The State of the Union from its intriguing trio of human stars, Samuel L. Jackson, Ice Cube and Willem Dafoe. Perhaps that’s as it should be, for this action thriller seems more like a combined auto show/Fourth of July celebration for firebugs than a film. Plot and performances matter little here; instead, the movie concentrates on “everything-but-the-kitchen-sink” special effects and stunts.

I didn’t see the first XXX adventure, so I’m at a disadvantage in terms of story background, but I understand Jackson (Coach Carter) portrays the head of the National Security Agency in both movies. For top secret  missions, he recruits an outsider with special skills and calls him Triple X. In XXX, the unlucky recruit was Vin Diesel (The Pacifier). This time, Ice Cube (Barbershop) gets the dangerous assignment -- after Jackson helps him escape from prison. His mission? Save the President of the United States (Peter Strauss) from assassination and prevent an overthrow of the government by the devious Secretary of Defense (Dafoe).      

In order to succeed, the new Triple X needs friends, firepower and the proper RIDES. Because he’s street smart, Ice Cube knows the only people he can trust are outsiders like himself. Fortunately, they’ve also got access to the necessary firepower. Finally, his friends, a former girl friend (Nona Gaye) and Jackson help provide him with those all-important vehicles.

And what vehicles they are (eat your heart out, 007)! Permission was granted to replicate the Ford Shelby Cobra prototype for the final chase scene against a bullet train; the 1967 GTO from XXX got a face lift to include more bells and whistles; a stock Ford F-150 truck became something special by installing raised wheels, custom tires and elaborate video/audio technology; a fleet of Navigators, Escalades and Humvees received extensive modification to give them a quasi-military look; and a futuristic stealth tank, complete with a rotating two-turret gun system, made its debut in the “assault on the Capitol” sequence.                      

Does it matter that Triple X almost destroys the President and the U.S. Capitol Building as he carries out his mission? Not really. After explosions galore in the rotunda, the Secretary of Defense kidnaps the President, so Ice Cube gets to chase them in one of those amazing cars and then RIDE on a speeding bullet train.

What did the real-life Ice Cube enjoy about being the new Triple X? “I got to play with the GTO, the F-150 and the Ford Concept Car,” he explained. “That Cobra is off the chain. I would walk on the set some days and it would be like a lover’s paradise. There would be a Ferrari here, a Rolls Royce or a new Mustang there. It was a blast, man, seeing all those cars and getting a chance to drive them and tear it up.” 

Yes, indeed. The ride’s the thing.

(Released by Columbia Pictures/Revolution Studios and rated “PG-13” for sequences of intense action violence and some language.)