Culture

Rating: 3/5

In my opinion, White House Down belongs to the same family as titles such as Snakes on a Plane, Tropic Thunder and Iron Sky – it’s a big, silly action film that understands that it’s a big, silly action film.

John Kale (Channing Tatum, in his second film playing an army vet named John) is applying for a job in the secret service when the White House is placed under siege by terrorists. Despite the fact that there would, in reality, be numerous secret service agents on site, Kale is somehow the only one capable of protecting the cool-as-a-cucumber president, James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx, playing what must be the youngest president in history).

If this plot sounds familiar, it’s because it is almost identical that of Olympus Has Fallen. But never fear, White House Down is far superior, primarily because, as I mentioned before, it doesn’t try to be something that it’s not. Screenwriter James Vanderbilt (from The Amazing Spiderman and the upcoming Robocop reboot) understands what audiences want in a blowing-up-the-White-House film, and gives it to them. Expect explosions, impossible near misses, a car chase on the White House’s front lawn and Tatum wearing a singlet that is far too small for him.

Much of the joy of the film comes from the fact that Foxx is essentially playing Barack Obama – his wife even has the First Lady’s iconic haircut – and it’s nice to think that Barack could handle a bazooka if needed. That’s not to say, however, that there aren’t some things seriously wrong with White House Down. As is often the case with action films, the plotline is hollow, and it seems as though Tatum and the actress playing his beloved daughter had known each other less than five minutes before shooting began. Not only that, but I haven’t seen such obnoxious product placement since Katy Perry’s last music video.

We mustn’t throw the baby out with the bath water, though. Of course this puppy was going to be plagued with a few Hollywood stupidities – it was directed by the guy who made The Day After Tomorrow, for God’s sake! This is a great action film that is just a bit of fun. No, scratch that – a lot of fun.