White House Down is Roland Emmerich in fine form—no, not just fine, the best he has been in years. Sure, you might know how this ends, but the journey is an exhilarating ride full of smart characters, humor, great action and a civics lesson about the chain of command.
The set-up is brisk, but we get to know our major players well. President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) plans to withdrawal all military forces from the Middle East and is working on a peace treaty. Sawyer is determined to bring peace even though he faces opposition from the world and at home. John Cale (Channing Tatum) currently works for the United State Capitol Police guarding the Speaker of the House, Congressman Eli Raphelson (Richard Jenkins) after doing three tours in the Middle East. Cale aims to be a part of the Secret Service, but Special Agent Carol Finnerty (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who knew Cale in the past, doesn’t think Cale has what it takes; she can’t look past what is in his file: a record of not finishing what he starts. On the day of his interview, Cale takes his daughter Emily (Joey King), who is a political junky with her own YouTube channel, to the White House with him. What begins as a great day for Emily quickly turns into turmoil as bad guys try to take over the country.
Nicolas Wright as White House Tour Guide Donnie, Joey King as Emily Cale and Channing Tatum as John Cale
This is a Roland Emmerich film, and that status comes with certain expectations. While the age-old standby of using maintenance work as the cover for how the bad guys gain entry, the rest of the film is over-the-top action sprinkled with smart characters and has an awareness of the times we live in. Cale gets into the fray because he wants to save his daughter, but he knows he has a higher duty, saving President Sawyer. Cale and Sawyer work well together, bringing their strengths to the situation. Sawyer isn’t helpless, and he keeps his wits. While the duo is in the elevator shaft, Sawyer uses his shoe to clog the gears, preventing them from getting squished. With Cale’s military background and Sawyer’s knowledge of the White House, emergency procedures, and his power, they make a formidable team that we come to believe could survive this situation. Adding to this belief is the help the team gets. Emily has a bit of her father’s bravery; she uses her cell phone wisely and remembers that she can upload video to her YouTube channel from her phone. Finnerty knows there is more to what the bad guys want and doesn’t give up trying to find out their real motivation.
White House Down knows we live in an age of everything is televised. The public is kept aware of the terror thanks to countless press outlets. After the attacks happen and with so many eyes watching, keeping secrets becomes difficult. Both sides have to use exposure to their advantage while figuring out how to hide in order to surprise the opposition. When Sawyer thinks he is the only one with certain information about the White House, it causes confusion when he finds out the knowledge is known. Sawyer and Cale have to work quickly to resolve their predicament, and they do in one of the funniest sequences in the film—a car chase that takes place all over the White House lawn that is, of course, broadcast for the world to watch.
Jamie Foxx as President James Sawyer
The performances are well suited to the needs of the film. Channing Tatum is relaxed; he doesn’t fill his character with cheap bravado. Jamie Foxx reminds us of why he was a standout on In Living Color; his comedic timing is impeccable. Joey King’s Emily is the right combination of annoyance from dealing with divorced parents, courage, tech savvy, and patriotism. Even James Woods as Secret Service Agent Martin Walker knows just when to chew a little scenery. And keep your eyes on Nicolas Wright as White House Tour Guide Donnie Donaldson; he has an unforgettable moment at the end.
White House Down plays on our fears of terrorism while fulfilling our desire to have a strong, active Commander-in-Chief by skillfully combining outrageous exploits (Cale runs fast enough to evade bullets, helicopters crash, and Sawyer uses a rocket launcher), effective characters, and humor. There are no dull moments, no forced romance subplot, or deviations from the thrust of the film. Emmerich knows what White House Down needed to be, a kick-ass action flick, and it hits every beat perfectly.
White House Down hits U.S. theaters on June 28.
