Angel Has Fallen (2019)

Directed by: Ric Roman Waugh | 121 minutes | action, thriller | Actors: Gerard Butler, Frederick Schmidt, Danny Huston, Rocci Williams, Piper Perabo, Harry Ditson, Linda John-Pierre, Ori Pfeffer, Morgan Freeman, Jasmine Hyde, Ian Porter, Laurel Lefkow, Michael Landes, Mark Arnold, Kerry Shale, Tim Black Nelson, John Strong, Mark Basnight, Jessica Cobley, Maisie Cobley, James Grogan, Stuart McQuarrie, Katya Bakat, Jada Pinkett Smith

To quote ‘our’ Carice van Houten: “Does it ever end?” Well no, as long as a film is successful, sequels will be canned. Preferably as soon as possible, because you have to strike while the iron is hot. ‘Angel Has Fallen’ is the second sequel to surprise hit ‘Olympus Has Fallen’. Predecessor ‘London Has Fallen’ was already a big disappointment, but this ‘Angel Has Fallen’ proves that it could be much worse. This was clearly a ‘must’ and hopefully it will stay with three falls.

In ‘Angel Has Fallen’ secret agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is charged with the attempted murder of the president (Morgan Freeman). However, this iron eater is innocent and decides to flee and clear his name. With his old FBI buddies on his tail, Banning searches for the real perpetrator of the POTUS attack.

‘Angel Has Fallen’ has pretty much the same script as the equally appalling ‘Taken 3’: even though one of those franchises has gone on for far too long. Butler is clearly out of shape and that results in stiff action scenes and crooked acting. Add to that a drunken cameraman and you are treated to a messy filmed action movie.

Not an ounce of creativity or love has gone into this film, resulting in a cynical cash cow. People who hope for a smooth and tightly filmed action film come home from a cold fair. Butler doesn’t feel like it, Freeman plays on autopilot and the supporting cast is also a waste of energy. Jada Pinkett Smith acts downright hysterical and Nick Nolte once again plays an estranged father from his son (read: the role he has played the same way in various films for decades).

Action films do not have to have an ingenious plot or high-quality acting, but there is a certain pattern of expectations. Genre fans can at the very least expect well-executed action and an actor who has mastered martial arts or proves that he can handle a weapon well. In ‘Angel Has Fallen’ you are faced with lousy fights, disinterested actors and a lack of originality. This sequel – just like the previous sequel – detracts from the original.