London Has Fallen review; “Nonsensical, ludicrous though thoroughly enjoyable”

London Has Fallen review: Gerard Butler returns for more carnage as he attempts to save his President on the streets of the British capital.

London Has Fallen review

London Has Fallen review by Paul Heath, March, 2016. Gerard Butler returns for the sequel to his Die-Hard-in-the-White-House actioner Olympus Has Fallen. London Has Fallen relocates the carnage to the streets of London for 100 minutes of utter chaos, carnage and cheesy cliché.

In the lead up to the release of the big budget action sequel that is London Has Fallen, there have been arguments that its content has gone a step too far. The $100 million Hollywood dynamo features explosions on the capital’s river Thames, gunfights and car chases down the Victoria Embankment, a bomb going off and completely destroying Westminster Abbey, and a bloodbath of killings on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral – and that’s all in the first twenty minutes. Regardless of its locale – did we complain as much when Antoine Fuqua destroyed the White House in the original’s outing a couple of years back? – Easy Money II director Babak Najafi has delivered a nonsensical, ludicrous and thoroughly enjoyable action movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The set-up is simple. The British Prime Minister has died, and the world’s leaders are to unite in London to attend his funeral. The State affair will be attended by every major foreign dignitary from across the globe, including the President Of The United States Of America, Benjamin Asher (a returning Aaron Eckhart). Assigned to head up his security on the ground during his visit, is Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Butler), an honourable, dedicated servant of the government who may be having doubts about his professional future, as it has revealed that he and his wife are about to start a family. Sure enough, after landing in the U.K., all hell breaks loose, and before long, foreign Prime Ministers are joining their British counterpart, London’s landmarks are taking a hit, and the President’s own life is threatened as he becomes the prime target. It’s up to Banning to once again, save the day.

London Has Fallen review

Let’s say this from the outset. London Has Fallen is ridiculous. From its cheesy dialogue, stupid plot, poor effects and wooden acting, it is one step away from becoming the action-movie equivalent of Sharknado. Political and ethical arguments aside, it still manages to entertain throughout with its failings actually becoming its biggest strengths. It truly is one of the funniest movies we’ve seen all year – and the great thing about the movie, is that it knows it is.

Butler hams it up throughout with his meat-headed Banning, and the role, which worked so wonderfully in the original, does so again. A particularly gung-ho moment is when a terrorist on a motorcycle plants his head through a speeding car’s window, next to Banning. Banning grabs it as the rogue cyclist screams ‘fuck you’. Butler retorts ‘No, fuck you…’ as he slams the guy into the pillar on an approaching bridge. Then there’s Morgan Freeman as returning Vice President Trumbull, a role almost confined, once again, to a single room. He, along with advisors that include Robert Forster‘s General Edward Clegg, and Jackie Earle Haley‘s DC Mason, channel performances that wouldn’t seem out-of-place in an Austin Powers movie, as they plan their tactics to go after the ‘man who has killed more people than The Plague’, Aamir Barkawi (Alon Aboutboul). Angela Bassett also returns, adding to the fun as Lynne Jacobs, clearly relishing every moment that she’s on the screen.

London Has Fallen review

Bordering on parody throughout, London Has Fallen is an unrelenting thrill ride from the off; a disposable straight-to-dvd action movie with a $100 million budget, and a steady stream of A-list actors. There are as many plot holes in the film as there are bullet holes in the walls outside of St. Pauls Cathedral, and yes, the CGI is terrible, and the acting very questionable, but the important point here is that is does not matter.

An unashamed, bloody action film that is essentially Die Hard With A Vengeance With A President on the streets of London. In our eyes, more thrilling than the action-packed original. Quite literally a blast.

London Has Fallen review by Paul Heath, March, 2016.

London Has Fallen is released in the UK on 3rd March, 2016, and in the US on 4th March, 2016.