To describe White House Down as brash and stupid is to complain about the Earth for being round. It's a Roland Emmerich film if you came for nuance, you come to the wrong place. But still, White House Down copped some flak. Critics thought it was dumb, clichéd and generic, featuring a would-be novel premise already ground into the dust by the earlier, more po-faced Olympus Has Fallen. They probably had a point if you did come in expecting filet mignon, you might've been soured at the rump roast on offer. But to others, this was the point. They were more than happy to pick up their knives and have at this brutally ridiculous romp, accepting it for what it is, and more importantly for what it isn't. Emmerich's film was never going to win any awards, and whether or not you enjoyed it depended on just how much you were willing to suppress that critical eye. It's something of an acid test if you can accept the Presidency being passed around like a hot potato while the first incumbent wields a rocket-launcher on the White House lawn, Emmerich's for you. If not, you were going to hate this, and hate it utterly.
Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League.
You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.
