If all you're after is a pair of mismatched heroes wisecracking their way through a series of explosive, well-mounted set pieces, look no further.
White House Down
It will start like any other day
2013 · 2h 11m · PG-13
Action, Drama, Thriller
Directed by
Roland Emmerich
Overview
Capitol Policeman John Cale has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of 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.
Director and cast
- Roland Emmerich Director
- Channing Tatum as Cale
- Jamie Foxx as President James Sawyer
- Joey King as Emily
- Maggie Gyllenhaal as Finnerty
- Richard Jenkins as Raphelson
- James Woods as Walker
- Nicolas Wright as Donnie the Guide
- Jimmi Simpson as Tyler
- Michael Murphy as Vice President Hammond
- Rachelle Lefevre as Melanie
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
It's Independence Day without the aliens and a president partial to Air Jordans.
The main flaw of White House Down is that it overstays its welcome, thanks in large part to a silly climax that seems to unfold in three laborious acts.
Essentially a louder, sillier version of Die Hard, with John Cale standing in for John McClane, a precocious daughter standing in for the plucky wife, and, alas, no one even much trying to stand in for Alan Rickman's deliciously wicked Hans Gruber.
It follows the Emmerich template: a spectacle-tinged, compelling setup; a dumb, disappointing midsection; and a cheese-topped denouement that veers so close to self-parody that one is tempted to call it funny.
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