Teens, extra-terrestrials, goofy comedies and action, lots of action. Yes, summer is upon us and all those summer movies are out and about. Opening in Israeli theatres today (a day before the US!) is director Roland Emmerich’s White House Down, starring Tatum Channing and Jamie Foxx.
Emmerich seems to have a penchant for wreaking havoc on major landmarks. Although White House Down is nowhere near The Day After Tomorrow in terms of scale or suspense, there is a ghoulish fascination in contemplating the possibilities inherent in an attack on such a symbolic venue as objets d’art and priceless historical mementos are smashed to smithereens.
Hot Tatum Channing displays his many fine qualities as John Cale, a divorced former military man currently pursuing a less than fulfilling job in the police force, who tries to win over his perhaps justifiably sullen, super-patriotic pre-teen Emily (Joey King). Cale tries to impress the kid by taking her to the White House where he has an interview lined up for his dream job as a Secret Service Agent assigned to protect President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Father and daughter end up taking a tour of the White House, which goes horribly wrong when the White House is attacked, the tourists become hostages and chaos reigns.
Does White House Down satisfy the urge for superficial summer fun, an air-conditioned interlude guaranteed not to weigh any more heavily on your psyche than a bag of popcorn? Yes. Channing is easy on the eyes and easy to root for; Foxx makes a fun President, amusing to hear him talk the talk on Mid East peace, and even more fun to see him walk the walk in his Jordans. Does it do much more than that? Not really, even though Maggie Gyllenhaal (Carol Finnerty – Secret Service) lends a touch of class and charm.
For all you students in the audience, there is even a lesson: while you party and slum through the semester, remember that your fellow classmates are watching you…
White House Down (US, 2013, 131 min, English with Hebrew subtitles)
Directed by Roland Emmerich; written by James Vanderbilt; starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins, Joey King, James Woods.
