Roland Emmerich direct Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx and James Woods in this White House set actioner.

This is how you do it! Die Hard in the White House not just in concept but in spirit. Tatum is John McClane – the heroics, the narrow scrapes, the wit, the rescuing of his dysfunctional family, the conversations with his dysfunctional family, the dirty white vest, the depleting rounds of ammunition, the Boy Scout ingenuity – they just spelt his character’s name a little wrong (barely) and given him convincing hair plugs. White House Down will sit happily in your Die Hard box set as an unofficial sequel, fits in snugger than 4 and 5 for sure. The baddies even have personality… Sure it’s not Gruber, Karl or Theo but… Emmerich just gets so much right in this popping tribute. At times too much. The large ensemble of classy actors takes us away from the main action a little too often just like the 1987 original. Not the only flaw. After a punishing limo chase around the grounds of the landmark proves a mid point highlight, the action fails to find anywhere new or better to go. The buddy banter between Tatum’s muscle and Foxx’s liberal POTUS sparkles so much, you’ll be frustrated they don’t carry on side by side in the third act kicking ass and taking names together. The closing eight minutes to doomsday timer is stretched out over an actual silly 20 of viewing time. Time shouldn’t move this slowly in the big bang finale. But when it keeps moving White House Down is adept Friday night entertainment. The kind they really don’t seem to make anymore. Big and dumb, smartly so.

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