White House Down is the new action-thriller from summer blockbuster maestro, Roland Emmerich [Independence Day, 2012], and stars Channing Tatum as “John Cale”, a policeman who has been denied his dream job of working within the secret service to protect President James Sawyer [Jamie Foxx]. While on a tour of the White House with his daughter, John springs into action to protect the president and his child from a heavily armed group of mercenaries.
White House Down: The Good
This is the second attempt this year to take control of the worlds most famous landmark and White House Down is an improvement of this years earlier effort which saw Gerard Butler given the grueling task of saving the White House in Olympus has Fallen.
Now its Channing Tatum’s turn who actually turns out to be more likable than Butler’s security guard, “Mike Banning”. Tatum’s John Cale is the closest portrayal of “John McClane”, as he has the mix of being serious as well as bringing the humor when needed and handles the action well.
Jamie Foxx, who after player a slave in Tarantino’s Django Unchained is now the president and his James Sawyer is clearly based on Obama but is actually a president who you would see yourself voting for for real.
The film is action-packed from start to finish with one action scene after another, including loud shoot outs, fist fights and the closed to the Die Hard movies as you can get. In particular a stand out chase sequence which sees the president’s limo called “The Beast” driven across the White House Lawn whilst taken fire from every weapon imaginable, it is both unpredictable and exciting to watch.
White House Down: The Bad
The film is predictable from the start with its Die Hard set up with Cale having family problems and with some shocking effects in some cheesy scenes including CGI helicopters and digitalized action scenes.
There is also Richard Jenkins who is always watchable but looks bored throughout the movie as a political speaker.
Conclusion:
Overall,
White House Down is fun ride if in the right mindset and offers a number of decently orchestrated action scenes which nicely pays homage to Die Hard and is one of the more fun blockbusters of the summer.