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Film review: White House Down

MANILA, Philippines - Helmed by Roland Emmerich, who brought us Independence Day and Anonymous, White House Down is like a full circle of sorts for this “wham, bang and sock ‘em” director. Once again, the iconic image of this Pennsylvania Avenue address acts as the fulcrum for what action and thrills this film provides. And as can be expected from an Emmerich film, there’s a surplus of dead bodies, explosions, crowd dispersals, military hardware and general mayhem. You don’t expect less, and Emmerich provides; damn the holes in the story, inconsistencies and larger-than-life portrayals. In fact, if anything, several of our protagonists are given their turn to shine and showcase the stuff of heroes — whether it be US President Sawyer, Presidential Secret Service wannabe John Cale or Cale’s spunky daughter.

Assigned to the security detail for the Speaker of the House, Cale (Channing Tatum) wants nothing more than to be a hero in the eyes of his Washington and presidency-obsessed daughter. To win her favor, he secures passes to the White House tour, and times it with an interview with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character to move up and be part of the Secret Service detail assigned to protect President Sawyer (Jamie Fox). As luck would have it, while he is denied the post during the interview, the tour with his daughter coincides with an explosion that happens in the Capitol Building. The explosion is, in fact, a diversion for a takeover in the White House itself, and the capture of the president.

Numerous twists and turns ensue as labyrinthine conspiracies, alliances and devious purposes are laid at our feet. Enmeshed by virtue of the coincidence that Cale and his daughter are trapped in the White House when all hell breaks loose, each plays a vital role in the exposure of the conspiracy, and in the hopes of keeping the president alive and well. The price of world peace, democracy, the nature of the military-industrial complex and defining patriotism and love of country, all add to the texture of what is essentially a fast-paced action thriller that doesn’t leave much in its wake — bullets, missiles and bodies fly with abandon; and if Emmerich can blow up something, shoot someone, he will!

Credibility is never a strong point in this type of film, but we are in for an invigorating ride. Tatum is the real flawed hero here, and he does make for an engaging “deus ex machina.” We last saw Fox in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, and while that one worked because of his laconic portrayal; here, he takes pain to not be an Obama caricature, and as a result, practically underplays the presidential quality we hoped to be inspired by. White House Down is an entertaining diversion, and one that should add to the Hollywood luster that Channing Tatum is steadily amassing.