Parents' Guide to London Has Fallen

Movie 2016 R 99 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

Jeffrey Anderson By Jeffrey Anderson , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 17+

Disappointing sequel is lifeless, violent, and depressing.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 17+?

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age 16+

Based on 8 parent reviews

 

 

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age 14+

Based on 22 kid reviews

Kids say the film is highly violent and filled with strong language, which has led to a divided audience; while some appreciate the action and intensity, many find it disappointing compared to its predecessor and criticize its lack of substance. The protagonist is often depicted as a patriot but is often seen as remorseless, leading to mixed reactions about the messages conveyed through the film.high violencestrong languagedisappointing sequelmixed reactionsintense actionweak story
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What's the Story?

In LONDON HAS FALLEN, Secret Service Agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is thinking of retiring, especially since his wife (Radha Mitchell) is about to have a baby. But before Mike can turn in his badge, the prime minister of England dies unexpectedly, and leaders from all over the globe are invited to London for the funeral -- including U.S. President Asher (Aaron Eckhart). Mike accompanies the president across the pond with very little preparation, and once they're there, a terrorist launches an all-out attack in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike two years earlier that killed the terrorist's family. Mike collects the president and spirits him away through the city streets, but with bad guys disguised as cops and military personnel, who can he trust? And can he stop the evil master plan?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 8 ):
Kids say ( 22 ):

Anyone who was calling for a sequel to Olympus Has Fallen should've been careful what they wished for; this sequel borrows shamelessly from many action classics and ends up lifeless and dim. London Has Fallen is interesting when it's showing the logistics of assembling so many world leaders in one place, but that order is quickly turned into brain-numbing chaos. And director Babak Najafi uses at least one impressive, 60-second tracking shot, but that still leaves about 90 dull minutes to slog through.

Butler is no Harrison Ford or Bruce Willis; he can't handle the dopey quips the screenplay gives him. Other, Oscar-nominated actors get even less dialogue, and much of that is forced and clunky. There's no one to connect with. Most of the action is either underdeveloped or relies on coincidence. And, worse, the movie may leave you feeling depressed and guilty, wondering whether, these days, movies about large-scale terrorist attacks ought to be marketed as slam-bang entertainment?

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