Josh Duhamel reunites with his “Bandit” director, Allan Ungar, for the action-comedy “London Calling,” produced by Quiver Distribution. Ungar co-wrote the screenplay with Omer Levin Menekse and Quinn Wolfe.
Tommy Ward (Duhamel), a mediocre hitman, mistakenly kills the relative of London’s biggest crime boss. As a result, he is forced to go on the run, seeking refuge in Los Angeles. To secure safe passage back to the UK and reunite with his son, Tommy makes a deal with his new employer, Benson (Rick Hoffman), that he must teach Benson’s socially awkward son, Julian (Jeremy Ray Taylor), how to become a man.
Reluctantly, Tommy finds himself drawn into Julian’s life as he accompanies him on a contract killing involving the renowned assassin Alistair McCrory (Neil Sandilands). What begins as a straightforward ride-along quickly spirals out of control. Tommy and Julian must navigate a night filled with danger and chaos, with Tommy striving to return to his son and Julian seeking his father’s approval. However, things take a turn when the crime boss Freddy Darby (Aiden Gillen) arrives in LA, ready to settle the score with Tommy.
“London Calling” is a film that takes character tropes from many movies you’ve seen before and tosses them into a blender. While the film is routine, “the creative team knows it’s going to work on the strength of its cast and what they do with its material. In that regard, Duhamel leans into the everyman approach, giving Tommy a likable charm and the right amount of bravado. One thing I must commend the script on is that it doesn’t provide Tommy plot armor.
The character has a flaw that complements his arc and adds just the right amount of humor. I’ve always felt that Duhamel deserved a much better career than he received, as his range was evident in films like “Love, Simon.” While he may not be Oscar-worthy in this role, he delivers another solid performance as a leading man.
Now twenty-two years old, Jeremy Ray Taylor brings the right amount of teenage angst to his character, Julian, and plays the awkward teen very well. One of the most surprising aspects of the film is that they don’t make Julian smarter than Tommy in any regard; instead, they treat Julian’s character as somewhat naive.
The chemistry between Duhamel and Taylor is what makes the film and gives it the right amount of heart. As for the supporting cast, Aiden Gillen and Rick Hoffman deliver the usual quips we’ve come to know them for, and it also works for the film.
While it is likely to be forgotten after the first viewing, “London Calling” has charm to appease fans of Josh Duhamel as a one-time watch.
Final Grade: B-
“LONDON CALLING” will be in theaters on September 19, 2025.
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