Review of White House Down (2013) by Nesbitt10 — 16 Aug 2013

To his credit, Roland Emmerich's "White House Down" knows just how completely ludicrous this storyline is, but fully embraces it, and has a lot fun riding it out to its utterly implausible end. Apparently, audiences are very hungry for action concerning terrorist attempts to take over the White House. This storyline is remarkably similar to that of "Olympus Has Fallen," from three months ago, but there are some fundamental differences. "White House Down" employs plenty of humor, which allows the viewer to just enjoy the viewing experience. There are many casualties in "WHD", but there is hardly any bloodshed. In contrast "Olympus," decided to include graphic violence, making it a challenge to just have fun in nothing more than a brainless blockbuster.

John Cale (Channing Tatum) is an US Capitol police officer that has struggled to hold a steady job and being a good father to his daughter, Emily (Joey King). She is passionate about politics and with the current US president, James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Cale takes Emily to the White House when he applies for a spot on the President's Secret Service, but he is does not get job. Dejected, John and his daughter join a tour through the White House at the same time domestic terrorists take over both the Capitol and the White House. The terrorists gather the tour group as hostages, while simultaneously trapping the president inside the building. With the actual Secret Service incapacitated, it befalls upon John Cale to rescue the president from these villains trying to destroy the American way, and their motives are the usual, standard terrorist demands (money, revenge, etc).

Despite the dramatic and grave tone of the trailer, "White House Down" has about as much fun with the disastrous scenario as respectably possible. There are laughs mostly cheesy, throughout the entire film, never letting the viewer forget they are here to have a good time. However, its impossible to ignore its glaring faults. You have never seen a more unconvincing president depicted on-screen. While its amusing to show the President wearing Jordan's while shooting a rocket launcher out a car window, any shred of legitimacy left evaporates in name of some laughs. Channing Tatum is respectable as the hero figure, but stiffens up at times in some scenes that require some dramatic finesse.

When comparing the two films with similar plots, separated by only three months at the box office, "White House Down" is the better summer, blockbuster watch when compared to "Olympus has Fallen" simply because the latter was just that bad.