London Has Fallen ★★★☆☆
By Tim Estiloz
The new film, London Has Fallen is a fairly straightforward, action-packed thriller that relishes in its testosterone filled bullets, bombast and breakneck pacing to surprisingly entertaining effect. This effective follow-up to 2013’s surprise hit, Olympus Has Fallen, basically follows the same plot template; but on a more international scale by transporting the action from a White House under siege to a terrifyingly deadly multi-level assault on London.
Gerard Butler returns as Secret Service Agent Mike Banning, specially assigned to guard the U.S. President played by Aaron Eckhart. In London Has Fallen, the stakes are still the same in terms of protecting the President. However, the ante is upped when during the funeral of the suddenly deceased British Prime Minister, a series of terrorist attacks almost simultaneously wipes out four of the world’s top leaders, and several key London landmarks with imagery that may strike some as too topical mirroring real life world events.
The U.S. President barely escapes being part of the meticulously planned carnage and it’s up to Agent Banning to keep his executive boss alive amid a city filled with terrorists hell bent on capturing and executing him via live streaming on the internet. Their infamous arms dealer leader has no political agenda for his bloody assault. Revenge for the collateral damage death of his daughter killed in a sanctioned drone strike meant for her father on her wedding day is the simple motive in play.
The entertaining allure of London Has Fallen is its simplicity of purpose. After an opening half hour that admirably adds some modicum of relationship development between the key characters including Vice President Trumbull ( Morgan Freeman ), Banning’s Secret Service boss ( Angela Bassett ) and her cocky agent; the film shifts into a taut, rapid fire pursuit overflowing with gunfire, wild car chases, explosions and the occasionally brutal and deadly mano a mano fist fight. It’s the well-staged relentless action that keeps this film on track.
Butler embraces his role of action hero with gusto and effectively placed quips of dark humor in his dialogue; oozing confidence and determination to keep his friend, the President alive at all costs.
London Has Fallen is fast, frenzied and, at least for the audience, a truly fun and entertaining wild ride.
