White House Down Review
RYAN: I’m happy to be joined by my pal, Nick Mason, for this review. You love action movies so I thought this one appropriate. White House Down stars Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx – both who know how to garner big box office in a blockbuster.
NICK: They do have a good track record for earning more than expected at the box office.
RYAN: Many are comparing this movie to Olympus Has Fallen because it’s the same genre, with a similar basic plot – the President under attack in the White House. I liked this better than Oplympus because the cast is better and while it’s equally suspenseful and tense, I jumped more in this one.
NICK: Yeah I noticed you jumped out of your seat a couple times. It got me too. This movie does get your heart racing a bit. The cast really was great. I’m a big fan of Foxx.
RYAN: There was a while I found him annoying in his career, and maybe it’s just personally in interviews because I really do enjoy him as an actor.
NICK: Channing was good in this too.
RYAN: He really was. And it’s not a role that hinges on his looks.
NICK: This had more comedy to it than Olympus Has Fallen though.
RYAN: Well, you’re being generous to call it comedy – because whenever there was a comedic line this film, I just cringed. Those moments failed. They were so cheesy; but it didn’t ruin the film one bit – because the rest of it – the greater portion of the film is just that amazing.
NICK: Yeah they could have scaled back on trying to be funny because when the action got very good they tried to soften it with a joke.
RYAN: I get frustrated at screenings when the bitter, jaded critics laugh at the movie I’m enjoying, it snaps me out of it. I was so into this the whole time. I cared about the characters. The chemistry and relationships were very real and I was into it.
NICK: It was really fascinating and part of what interested me, without giving too much away, was that the team of villains actually began to crumble a bit within their alliance.
RYAN: I also liked that before the action really began, you see all the inner workings of the White House and so many different aspects of politics behind he scenes. I’m sure it’s not true to life how things actually operate, but it was still fun to see.
NICK: The other neat thing was the theme about family in the film because Channing’s character has a daughter.
RYAN: Right – she’s played by one of my favorite young actresses, Joey King, who I fell in love with in Oz the Great and Powerful as the voice of China Girl. She’s having an amazing year. She’s a star on the rise – the next major young actress. And I liked Channing a little bit more than Jamie in this because they gave Jamie a bit more of the comedy which I, again, just found cheesy instead of funny.
NICK: Channing did do well. Surprisingly, Jamie did have a very presidential feel even though there was some of that comedy tied into it. He was good.
RYAN: And I loved Maggie Gyllenhaal in this too. It’s a perfect role for her. Do you think she’s hot?
NICK: Yeah she was pretty. She’s definitely eye-catching.
RYAN: And James Woods plays her boss. He’s so good and it’s strange seeing him with shock-white hair. The effect, explosions are all really good. There’s not too much blood because it is rated PG-13. The flow of the story is very organic.
NICK: There are a few twists throughout the movie which keep you involved.
RYAN: And there are some themes that are a bit formulaic, like, trying to get the nuclear codes, but I still was very invested in and excited by it.
NICK: The special effects were very good – all the shots around DC and the buildings crashing and chases – a lot of good production value.
RYAN: About three quarters of the way through, when I was offended by other critics laughing, I thought to myself, “Why are you laughing? This is one of my favorite movies of the year!” Well, it’s not actually; but I was defensive in the moment because I was enjoying this film that much.
NICK: I think my friends who would be into a PG-13 movie would like this. Some might find it too cheesy.
RYAN: It’s a very complex story but is never too hard to follow and it ties up all of the different loose ends and storylines.It’s certainly farfetched and cheesy at times, but if you allow yourself to suspend the disbelief and go along for the ride, like I did, it’s a very fun movie.
