"Cinematic Take or Social Accuracy?"

POSTED BY , 19 June 2007

Yes I admit it, I paid legal U.S. currency to see the Vin Diesel movie “xXx”.

Let's move on…

Now it only takes a few seconds to sort through those fond theater memories but I am reminded how the movie drove home an interesting Corvette taboo. In the opening scenes, Vin’s character steals a red ’98 convertible at the entrance to a country club. He then proceeds to drive the snot of out that C5, and eventually off a bridge. It may have all ended in a huge fiberglass fireball but that was probably the most fun that particular Corvette ever had. To me, if a ‘Vette showed up at a country club, the arrival would be more like Happy Gilmore at the Master’s, not some upper-class ‘pomp and circumstance’.

Seems even Hollywood knows about the prim and proper ways surrounding Corvette ownership, otherwise they would use a different car to satisfy that country club image. Right? There’s something to having a rogue-character, like Diesel’s Xander Cage, smash a bright red Corvette that goes beyond the script. There must be a sentiment that I’m not familiar with because the Corvette has always been the American icon with an audience that crosses all stereotypes. A machine that has set unprecedented performance, meets nearly all driving needs and leaves its owner without needing to come up with an excuse. Since when did the soft, high-roller image overtake the hardcore, plastic-racer appeal?

I’ve yet to meet any Corvette enthusiasts like what I see represented in movies and television.

May be I am missing something… Let’s hear your thoughts and comments!