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Vin, lose or draw

Continuing the trend of cinematic mulligans (see "The Wolverine"), Vin Diesel's Riddick character, the silver-eyed brute from 2000's effective sci-fi sleeper "Pitch Black", returns in the simply-named "Riddick" to atone for the sins of 2004's overblown, under-realized "The Chronicles of Riddick".

In this latest "Riddick", the character is stranded on a planet as barren as the film's script. As in the last installment, it's clear that significant time was put into creature and weapon design - though, judging by the special effects, without the budget to back them up. But while "Chronicles" was over-stuffed with plot, this edition of "Riddick" has virtually none.

The film takes place after "Chronicles", but for no apparent reason since it doesn't advance the plot or character (maybe that's why it's not called a "Chronicle"). Riddick has been double-crossed by those evil Necromongers, one of the two memorable components of the last film (the other being the concept of an "Underverse"), and left to die on a planet teeming with vicious, carnivorous life on land, sea and air. After an extended survival sequence, Riddick discovers an emergency beacon and signals the two competing bounty hunter gangs that give the film its threadbare plot. There's also an imminent third act threat hidden in the approaching rainstorm, fyi.

Watching "Riddick" forces you to ask yourself what kind of cynical filmmakers would think that David Twohy's script - clearly not "good" by any definition - was "just good enough" to cash in off mainstream audiences. This is a movie written by boys for boys. Not that any women were going to run out to see this film, but the finished product definitely won't make any friends in the lesbian or feminist communities. Most troubling is considering how Katee Sackhoff was convinced to appear in a non-existent second-banana role after doing such strong work on "Battlestar Galactica". Maybe she wanted to dust off some of her old Starbuckisms, but she is embarrassed by a character who's only trait is if she'll sleep with Riddick or not (fun fact: she's apparently gay!).

Not that any actor comes out looking good with Mr. Twohy's pop culture-baiting, James Cameron-knock off dialogue ("Jinx my janx"? Wha?). You can imagine a bunch of guys sitting around saying, "oh, this would be cool!" How about a scorpion-like creature that hides in water? Or a dingo-like creature that becomes Riddick's companion? Oh, and we should show him setting his own broken leg because, well, he's Riddick, and he's tough!

The franchise continues to over-estimate the importance of this character by seating the entire film on his shoulders (did they learn nothing from "Pitch Black"?). It's no wonder the character has found most success in the video game industry since he's more of a conduit for mayhem than story. Aside from his strength and photosensitive eyes, Riddick's only ability seems to be surrounding himself with predictable villains then ushering them to their well-earned destruction. I mean, really, the guy needs to start hanging out with a better group of friends.

The sad part is that this is likely Vin Diesel's best work as the Riddick character. He has a comfort in the role and moments of humor that the previous films haven't afforded him. It's a great character for his unique persona, if only there were anything else in the film as interesting. As you're watching, you can actually feel the character's potential being wasted, along with precious minutes of your time. Eventually, you're praying for the rain to come.