Foxx and Tatum Star in 'White House Down'

By Darlene Donloe

For the second time this year, the White House has fallen into the hands of bad guys. First was Antoine Fuqua’s successful Olympus Has Fallen, starring Gerard Butler. 

This weekend it’s Roland Emmerich’s White House Down, starring Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum.

Ok, to be honest, it’s not that much different from Olympus.  The story is familiar, the destruction is almost as equal and the outcome is no surprise.

Still, White House Down is an entertaining, fast-paced, shoot ‘em up that is the perfect popcorn movie for the summer.

Jamie Foxx brings his quick repartee and comedic-timing while Channing Tatum brings his good looks, boyish charm and leading man status.  The combination is electric. The chemistry between two of the hottest male actors in Hollywood is palpable.  It’s a welcomed addition to the movie -  giving its enormous amount of gregarious, over-the-top violence, which plays right into the hands of the boys/men club.

In Columbia Pictures’ White House Down, Capitol Policeman John Cale (Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Foxx).  Not wanting to let down his little girl, Emily (Joey King) with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House. During the course of the tour, President James Sawyer (Foxx), an idealistic former academic who chomps on Nicorette to keep from smoking  - stops by to greet the visitors and grants Emily a brief interview for her video blog.

Moments later the iconic, historic symbol of America is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group.  

A Capitol Hill policeman and Afghanistan War vet, it’s Cale to the rescue. The only thing standing between the overthrow of the government and world peace is Cale, who is presented with the monumental task of saving his daughter, the POTUS and the country.

 JAMIE FOXX

There are several scenes where the bad guys are crack shots. However, for some reason when they aimed their big automatic weapons at the POTUS and Cale, they miss horribly.  There shooting is actually comical. But, that and several of the throw away one-liners in the film, make it a FUN-tastic film.

For instance, after POTUS loses a shoe, he goes to his closet and picks out some Jordan’s to don instead of his standard POTUS lace ups. However, when one of the bad guys grabs him by the ankles, Foxx kicks him repeatedly while saying, “don’t ever touch my Jordans.”

(l-r) CHANNING TATUM and JAMIE FOXX

Columbia Pictures presents a Mythology Entertainment / Centropolis Entertainment production, White House Down.  The film, directed by blockbuster guru Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and “2012”), stars Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins and James Woods.  Written by James Vanderbilt.  Produced by Bradley J. Fischer, Harald Kloser, James Vanderbilt, Larry Franco, and Laeta Kalogridis.  Executive Producers are Ute Emmerich, Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin. 

White House Down, which opens June 28, has been rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for prolonged sequences of action and violence including intense gunfire and explosions, some language and a brief sexual image.  Running time: 2 hrs. 17 min.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (OK) and E (excellent), White House Down gets an OK.