REVIEW: “London Calling” (2025)

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Josh Duhamel has acted in all sorts of projects – from sweet romantic comedies and emotional dramas to huge action movies and smaller, direct-to-video thrillers, and even major video games. Despite his versatility, he hasn’t always received the praise he deserves. While the quality of the films he’s been in sometimes holds him back, Duhamel consistently delivers strong performances and often elevates the material he’s given.

I have to say, Josh Duhamel really shines in his latest film. “London Calling,” directed by Allan Ungar, is a fun mix of action, crime, and comedy. The script, a collaborative effort from Ungar, Levin Menekse, and Quinn Wolfe, introduces us to Tommy Ward, a hitman played by Duhamel, who’s… let’s just say not having his best day. He messes up a hit right at the start in London, and that one mistake pretty much sets the stage for everything that follows. It’s a great vehicle for Duhamel to show off what he can do.

At a London nightclub, Tommy accidentally kills a distant relative of mob boss Freddy Darby (Aidan Gillen). Freddy, though not particularly close to the victim, is determined to get revenge simply because he feels it’s what a gangster is expected to do – and his insistence on ‘family’ becomes a running gag throughout the film. Tommy is then forced to escape to Los Angeles, leaving his son behind with his unhappy ex-wife in London.

A year later, Tommy is working for Benson (Rick Hoffman), a shady crime boss in Los Angeles. Tommy is determined to see his son, and Benson offers him a deal: safe travel to London in exchange for bringing Benson’s son, Julian (Jeremy Ray Taylor), along on his next job. Julian isn’t interested in the family business – he’d rather play Fortnite, participate in live-action role-playing, and even hang out with bears! Benson hopes Tommy can help his awkward son grow up and “become a man.”

The rest of the movie feels like a classic buddy-cop story, but without any police officers. Throughout the constant action and humor, Josh Duhamel and Henry Taylor clearly enjoy working together and have great comedic timing. Their mission involves a dangerous, unstable assassin (Neil Sandilands), his overprotective brother (Brandon Auret), and, predictably, Freddy and his crew from England. The plot gets a little chaotic, making the developing friendship between Tommy and Julian the most engaging part of the film.

Allan Ungar’s “London Calling” is a fun mix of action and comedy, with the humor being a standout. The film features energetic and colorful visuals of Southern California, cleverly filmed on location in South Africa. However, the cast truly shines, with Josh Duhamel leading the way and perfectly embodying everything the character and the movie require. It opens in theaters on September 19th.

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2025-09-17 17:57