Angel Has Fallen

Starring: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Danny Huston, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nick Nolte, Piper Perabo, Lance Reddick, Tim Blake Nelson
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is beginning to feel the toll of not only his age but his work on his body. Secretly visiting doctors, suffering from insomnia and popping painkillers like candy, Banning is in rough shape. Considering life a change, Banning has applied for and is President Trumbull's (Morgan Freeman) favorite to be the next head of the secret service after the current director David Gentry (Lance Reddick) retires. This not only excites Banning's wife Leah (Piper Perabo) but his war buddy and friend Wade (Danny Huston), a private contractor who is hoping mike can help him with jobs for his team. After an assassination attempt where only Banning and Trumbull survive, Mike finds himself framed for the assassination and on the run, with FBI agent Thompson (Jada Pinkett Smith) on his tail. With no one left to trust Banning finds himself heading to West Virginia to enlist the help of his dad Clay (Nick Nolte), who left when Mike was young, to help clear his name.
There was an admittedly low bar of clear but this was a step up quality wise from 2016’s abysmal London Has Fallen. In fact, they almost act that movie didn’t happen. Gone is the almost gleeful Xenophobia that plagued that entry which has been replaced by Banning’s issues with his aging body and issues thanks to his past adventures.
The plot, which owes quite a bit to 80’s action films, is simple and ridiculous. To its credit, it doesn’t go out of its way to hide the villain. It was pretty obvious regardless thanks to casting but still kudos for not allowing the film to be more unnecessarily complicated than it is. That being said, this shouldn’t have been a 2 hour movie. I hate to say it but they very easily could have cut the Jada Pinkett Smith subplot, especially with how inconsequential it ends up being.
The action gets a face lift as well, which is saying something since they are borderline incomprehensible thanks to a heavy dose of shaky cam. At least, for the most part, practical explosions are used. Unfortunately when there is a need for CGI it’s obvious and not well rendered.
Butler has definitely found his comfort zone and it shows. The real asset to the film is Nick Nolte, who is absolutely unhinged as Butler’s father. If only the rest of the film had taken this cue. The rest of the actors perform their roles capably and I hope they were paid well for their work.
While this three-quel was unnecessary, it’s an entertaining send off for the trilogy as it’s back to embracing the so bad its good mentality.
C