Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Capitol Policeman John Cale has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service protecting President James Sawyer. Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation's government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.
White House Down is a loud, glossy but thoroughly derivative Die Hard-in-the-White-House actioner. The plot is a familiar assembly of well-worn action tropes — reluctant everyman hero, kidnapped loved one, shadowy conspiracy — executed competently but without surprise. Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx have likable chemistry that elevates the acting above its script, but neither is given anything demanding. The cinematography is slick yet anonymous blockbuster work — adequate but unremarkable. The film's conspiracy twist is telegraphed early and the climax resolves predictably. Novelty is low: the premise is nearly identical to Olympus Has Fallen (released the same year), and the film offers little that distinguishes it beyond a lighter, more comedic tone. Overall a passable popcorn film held back by formula at nearly every level.