Journalists can do many things to destroy their reputations.

Dan Rather discredited himself along with CBS when he didn’t verify his sources. Jayson Blair brought down the top editors of the New York Times when he plagiarized stories. Stephen Glass damaged a fine publication when he fabricated many stories for The New Republic.

These journalists proved to the public that their credibility meant nothing.

Likewise, any journalist who gives “XXX: State of the Union” a good review will be misleading the public, destroying their reputations, and in a way doing more harm than Dan Rather, Jayson Blair, or Stephen Glass ever did: they will be duping the paying customer out of $8 per ticket. All journalists who give this movie a good review should suffer the consequences of those rogue and negligent reporters. They should be fired or forced to resign.

This movie is that bad.

Like anything that is truly wretched, “XXX” squanders some great strengths, all of which have to do with the acting.

The first strength: Vin Diesel opted out of the lead role, and Ice Cube signed on. Ice Cube brings charisma and legitimacy to the role that Mr. Diesel could only fake. You believe that Ice Cube is a tough guy. It’s etched in his face. But he’s not just tough. He also pulls off a few racially charged jokes, bringing humor with the danger. Obviously, Cube enjoys his role.

The second strength: Samuel L. Jackson agreed to return as Augustus Gibbons, the NSA agent in charge of recruiting XXX. Jackson brings a cool intensity to just about all his films. He’s the anchor of this film. Any other actor would have trouble saying his lines without laughing. To his credit Jackson stays deadpan throughout.

The third strength: Willem Dafoe, Scott Speedman and Xzibit all give outstanding supporting performances. Like Jackson, Dafoe doesn’t have a well-written role, but he’s so comfortable in villainous role that he can insinuate his sinister intentions with nothing but a facial expression.

Unfortunately, this is an action movie, and for action movies the acting isn’t as essential as it needs to be for dramas or comedies. What is essential for an adventure movie? Excitement, coherent action and an intriguing plot. In these aspects “XXX” doesn’t deliver and so all the film’s good points are completely wasted.

The plot follows the recruitment of Darius Stone (Cube) and his attempts to thwart the secretary of defense’s (Dafoe) schemes to overthrow the government. It’s a familiar plot line and the film’s director, Lee Tamahori, doesn’t even try to inject any new life into it.

Instead Tamahori relies on ridiculous, unbelievable action stunts and explosions. Never once do you worry that Cube, or Jackson is in any real danger. It’s not interesting to watch a movie where there’s no suspense about whether or not the hero will break some bones or bleed a little. It’s so far from reality and humanity that audience won’t care.

Respectable journalists always try to keep in mind that their job is a public service.

Consider this a public service message: Avoid “XXX: State of the Union.”