By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"LONDON CALLING" IS ACTION-COMEDY FUN
Josh Duhamel once again proves just how talented and versatile he is with his latest movie,
"London Calling." Whether he's charming audiences in romantic comedies like "Shotgun Wedding" or diving headfirst into action-packed thrillers ("Blackout"), Duhamel effortlessly blends charisma and chaos.
In this action/buddy comedy, from director
Allan Ungar ("Bandit") and screenwriters
Omer Levin Menekse ("The Process") and
Quinn Wolfe, Duhamel brings both grit and goofiness to a role that's equal parts silly and entertaining.
He plays Tommy Ward, a hitman with a serious problem. His eyesight is going fast, and so is his aim. After botching a hit in London by mistakenly taking out the wrong guy who just so happens to be a distant relative of powerful mob boss Freddy Darby (Aidan Gillen, TV's "Mayor of Kingstown"), Tommy finds himself with a target on his back. His only option is to get out of London fast. That means leaving behind his young son and even his ex-girlfriend who is now seeing some other weird guy.
Fast forward one year, and Tommy is now in Los Angeles taking refuge under the wing of a new boss, named Benson (a funny Rick Hoffman, TV's "Billions"), who offers him protection, but you know there's a catch.
Benson wants his son Julian (a perfectly awkward and endearing Jeremy Ray Taylor, "This Too Shall Pass" and "It: Chapter Two") to "toughen up" and eventually take over the family business, but he's clearly not cut from the same cloth. So, Tommy has to play mentor to Julian who is more into gaming than shootouts and shakedowns. He agrees to take Julian out on his next big and dangerous assignment in exchange for Benson ensuring he can return safely to the UK once everything is finished.
What starts off as a begrudging favor quickly turns into an unlikely friendship as Tommy and Julian stumble through LA in Tommy's not-so-reliable "classic" Pontiac Grand Prix dodging real-life killers, sharing late-night diner conversations, and accidentally learning a thing or two about loyalty, bravery, and growing up.
Both Tommy and Julian surprisingly come away from their time together better people. Being with Julian simply reinforced Tommy's desire to get back and reconnect with his own son.
Tommy also tells Benson that Julian was a really good kid even before their time together. Now, he has more confidence, and he wants Benson to not be so hard with him.
"London Calling" is pure popcorn fun. It's a wild mix of action and absurdity with a little bit of warm heartedness tossed in for good measure. It's the kind of mid-budget, odd-couple comedies Hollywood used to crank out regularly and should absolutely bring back.
With Duhamel's comedic timing and action chops on full display, and Jeremy Ray Taylor's memorable performance providing the perfect counterbalance, "London Calling" checks all the boxes for a mindless, funny, and surprisingly sweet ride.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Go Ahead And Watch This Trailer For
"LONDON CALLING"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
