Franchises are what the movie industry seems to be built on
these days. In the past there were only a few, most notable the James Bond
series of films. But with the rise of several successful franchises like the
ELM STREET films, HARRY POTTER films and more, it seems a new one pops up each
year.
In the 2013 film OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN we were introduced to
the character of Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), the top notch Secret Service
agent in working the Presidential detail who fell from grace when he saved the President
but not the First Lady. He redeemed himself and then in 2016 returned again in
LONDON HAS FALLEN, guarding the President this time in London as a terrorist
attack on the commander in chief goes down. Of course he was successful.
Here we are 3 years past and now we have ANGEL HAS FALLEN
arriving on disc, the angel being referenced being Banning, the President’s
guardian angel. The film opens with Mike going through a training session at
the camp his old Army buddy Wade Jennings (Danny Huston) has. Jennings has
retired from active duty and now runs a mercenary for hire group.
Mike has been groomed to take over as the new director of
the Secret Service by both his outgoing boss David Gentry (Lance Reddick) and
President Trumbull (Morgan Freeman), the VP in the first two films. The only
thing keeping him back is pain issues having sustained so many injuries in the
past. Rather than confront this he takes pain meds and hides his condition.
On a private fishing expedition for the President Mike is showing
fatigue and the Trumbull sends him ashore. As he pilots his boat back the
entire Secret Service details is attacked by a swarm of drones armed with
explosives that takes them all out. Before the drones can kill the President,
the agent with him throws him in the water and Mike swims to his rescue. For
some reason the drones do not shoot him.
When he wakes he finds out why. Trumbull is in a coma and a
trail of clues lead to the conclusion that Mike was behind the assassination
attempt. FBI agent Thompson (Jada Pinkett Smith) places him in custody and he
is transported to a safe facility. Along the way his convoy is attacked by the
same people really responsible for assassination attempt, Wade Jenning’s group.
Mike escapes these captors, realizes who they are and heads out to find
assistance.
The only person he can trust and the one that he feels no
one will ever connect him with lives in a cabin in the woods by himself.
They’ve not had contact in years. It’s his father Clay Banning (Nick Nolte). There
are issues between the two but it provides Mike a place to rest. Until Wade’s
men track him down and attempt to take out both men. What they didn’t count on
was loner and conspiracist Clay being prepared for just such an occasion.
Determined to save the President and reclaim his good name
Mike sets out to do just that. Each step of the way he has to worry about Wade
and his men stopping him as well as the countless number of police, military,
FBI and Secret Service people searching for him. It’s no spoiler to assume the
outcome. The fun is the journey getting there.
When this film was released in theaters I can remember the
bad press that it got. Critics felt it was too over the top. They said it was
too unbelievable. But the fact of the matter is that this is the exact reason
that people went to see these movies to begin with. They’re popcorn films,
movies that you sit crunching away on salted, buttered goodness while having a
blast at the movies. Filled with tons of gun battles and explosions it was the perfect
summer movie. And yet it disappointed at the box office.
That shouldn’t stop you from enjoying it at home. Butler
continues to play the role with ease. Freeman does a great job as well, the
wizened bureaucrat who knows there are few he can trust and who is proven true
as the film unfolds. Piper Perabo takes over for Radha Mitchell as Mike’s wife
Leah. And Nolte does a great job as an old curmudgeon who has the chance to
make up for lost time.
It’s a fun film that provides all of the action you’ve come
to expect in the series. With films like JOHN WICK, THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS
series and more seeking to grab the reigns on action films this one gives them
a go for the title. It might not rule them all but it is a movie that packs a
punch.
No comments:
Post a Comment