399. Angel Has Fallen; movie review

ANGEL HAS FALLEN
Cert 15
121 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language, violence

Ah, how I have missed Gerard Butler raking in the money thanks to some overblown tosh.
Is it really six years since Olympus Fell and three since London took a tonking?
Apparently so - therefore, it seems it must be time for the angel to topple over. I admit I was intrigued by the title but it only served to disappoint.
This is just more of the same - massive body count, huge explosions and a plot which is ludicrous on many levels.
Interestingly, the budget for Ric Roman Waugh's movie was not as large as that of its two predecessors.
But, having made nearly $100m profit at last count, it will provide another giant pay-check for Mr Butler, who is not only its star but one of its producers.
I guess I shouldn't be too caustic about him because earlier this year I did discover, much to my surprise, that he could act when he starred in the creepy Scottish thriller The Vanishing.
Unfortunately, he brings none of that artistry to Angel Has Fallen which is the same old brainless nonsense for which he has become famous.
Once again Butler plays bodyguard to an American president (Morgan Freeman) when things go belly-up big time.
And with the leader of the free world in a coma and the entire presidential secret service team in the morgue, suspicion falls on the only one left alive - Butler's Mike Banning.
Let's just take a breather for a moment... the bloke who single-handedly fought off terrorist to save the president from a White House attack and managed to keep him safe while the whole of London collapsed around them is believed to be a Ruski agent?
Well, apparently, it is that easy to fool the American establishment. This probably explains a lot.
Anyway, Butler's character suddenly goes from being America's number one hero to America's most wanted.
As he tries to evade capture, he enlists the help of his estranged dad (Nick Nolte) and finds out that his best friend is not who he thought he was (did nobody tell him that Danny Huston always plays the villain)?
And of course, buildings fall and people die by the score.
Is it as bad as London Has Fallen? Probably Not. Does it scour the depths of Butler's truly abysmal Geostorm? Thankfully, no.
Nevertheless, Angel Has Fallen is bad and I suspect it is not the last of the franchise.

Reasons to watch: If you are love-blind for Gerard Butler
Reasons to avoid: Too many reasons to list

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None:
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 3/10

Did you know? Gerard Butler earned a law degree with honours from the University of Glasgow. During his time as a student, he became the president of the University Legal Society.

Final word. Roman Waugh: "I love the plot engine that Gerry had come up with, of turning Mike Banning into the fugitive, turning the man who is the number one protector of the most powerful person in the world to suddenly being America’s most wanted." The Beat

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