Most college students would agree that there are moments when all you want to do is watch an entertaining mind-numbing movie. “Riddick” is the perfect antidote for your pleasurable movie coma syndrome.

In 2000 audiences were introduced to the character Riddick with the film “Pitch Black.” Vin Diesel played the mysterious yet oddly charismatic murderer. After the disappointing sequel, “The Chronicles of Riddick” in 2004, the New York born actor is once again returning to the character that ushered him into some surprising stardom.

Despite the nine-year hiatus, “Riddick” is a sequel, although a loose one, to the higher budgeted 2004 setback.

The film begins with Riddick stranded on a planet, injured and fighting for his life. It is simple and concise, and within the first 20 minutes the audience learns how the complex protagonist fell into his predicament.

Simultaneously, the beginning of “Riddick” immediately connects with fans of the character because it draws on the roots of what made Riddick such an intriguing, simple character.

Vin Diesel is to Riddick what Sylvester Stallone is to Rambo and what Bruce Willis is to John McClain. Each of these actors identify with their iconic action characters, and while Rambo is over-the-top destructive and McClain is fantastically sassy, Riddick is admirably gritty in his actions and words.

The grizzly deep voice that Vin Diesel is able to muster is undeniably cool. There is a particular scene in “Riddick” when Diesel’s character is chained. The scene truly embodies what deadly swag should sound like vocally.

While Vin Diesel flourishes in his role, there are some hiccups that make “Riddick” falter next to other iconic action hero films.

The director and screenwriter David Twohy does a decent job of attempting character development, but in the end, every character besides Riddick seems to be lacking.

David Bautista and Katee Sackhoff headline the supporting cast, and while each character has their moments, the audience is left lacking an emotional connection. This is normal for a guilty-pleasure action movie, but nonetheless it is a hindrance.

While it benefits by going back to the roots of success of “Pitch Black,” “Riddick” does suffer from déjà vu at times. The film pays homage to its predecessors with clever subtleties, but formulaic plot moments and character interactions make for some uninteresting and incredibly predicable scenes.

Will “Riddick” bring many new converts to the unknown franchise? Probably not. But does “Riddick” prove itself as an above average satisfying sci-fi action flick? Yes.

Vin Diesel has to be credited for bringing this missed isolated killer back to life so well. Improved special effects and entertaining action scenes make “Riddick” the best of the should-be-better known trilogy. It’s not often one sees a B-movie type of premise be successful among the other far more complex films of the fall.