When I think back on The Rundown (2003), what always jumps out at me isn’t the jungle setting or even The Rock swinging a two-by-four like the chair shots he did to Mick Foley. It’s the story buried underneath all the explosions and action: a hired muscle sent to drag home his boss’ spoiled son, only to realize the kid isn’t rotten at all. In fact, he’s decent, funny and worth saving. What begins as a job for a mercenary shifts into something almost noble: a thug slowly waking up to the idea that loyalty can be earned, rather than bought.
I remember following that arc closely, because it surprised me. The movie was marketed as an action comedy, but beneath the chaos was this almost old-fashioned tale of redemption: the “bad guy” discovering his strength isn’t in intimidation, but in protecting someone who deserves better. By the end, I wasn’t rooting for The Rock because of how many fights he won; I was rooting for him because of how his allegiance changed. That shift — from enforcing cruelty to choosing loyalty — is what made the film stick with me for all these years.
The premise of London Calling echoes that same dynamic, in its own way. Josh Duhamel steps into the role of Tommy Ward, a mid-level hitman who makes a costly mistake by killing the wrong man: the relative of London’s most powerful crime boss, Freddy Darby (Aidan Gillen).
Forced to flee to the U.S., Tommy is torn away from his son and left scrambling for a way back home. His lifeline comes in the form of Benson (Rick Hoffman), a fixer who promises him safe passage — if Tommy agrees to a peculiar task. Benson wants his socially awkward son, Julian (Jeremy Ray Taylor), “toughened up,” and Tommy is drafted as the unlikely mentor. What follows is an uneasy partnership: a hitman trying to teach someone to become ruthless, only to find both himself and Julian learning lessons neither expected.
London Calling feels like a spiritual cousin to The Rundown — both films hinge on the idea of a hardened enforcer being paired with someone who’s his total opposite, only to discover that the partnership is where the real story lies. Where The Rundown gave us The Rock reluctantly dragging along his boss’ wisecracking son through a jungle of gunfights and treasure hunts, London Calling swaps that setup for a hitman teaching his boss’ socially awkward kid how to survive in the criminal underworld. The result is similar in tone: action that borders on the absurd, comedy born from clashing personalities and a core relationship that ends up being more engaging than the bullets or explosions surrounding it.
Tommy and Julian couldn’t be more different, and that contrast is what gives London Calling its spark. Tommy is every bit the seasoned hitman: cool under fire, precise in his movements and seemingly unshakable, no matter how chaotic the situation becomes. He embodies the kind of hardened professional who has survived this long by keeping his emotions locked down. Julian, on the other hand, is the total opposite: a socially awkward teen whose biggest concerns revolve around his next move in the local live-action role-playing game.
While Tommy is trying to impart lessons on how to intimidate, manipulate and kill, Julian is wondering whether his character will survive his next encounter.
It’s a clash of worlds that could have easily felt forced, but Josh Duhamel and Jeremy Ray Taylor make it sing. Duhamel leans into Tommy’s stoic professionalism without losing the cracks of humanity underneath, while Taylor plays Julian with the right mix of vulnerability and goofy charm. The two have an odd-couple chemistry that elevates the film, turning what could have been a standard crime flick into something unexpectedly funny and heartfelt. Their dynamic isn’t just entertaining — it’s the movie’s beating heart.
For some viewers, the film’s emphasis on action over deep character growth might feel like a drawback. London Calling isn’t especially interested in exploring how Tommy and Julian gradually smooth out their rough edges or transform one another in profound ways. Instead, it throws its energy into the wild situations they stumble into and the chaos that follows. But honestly, that’s part of its charm. This is an unapologetic action-comedy that knows exactly what it wants to be — and doesn’t pretend otherwise.
It’s the kind of movie you put on when you just want to shut your brain off, revel in the over-the-top set pieces and laugh along with the absurdity of it all.
The only real downside to London Calling is that it leans a little too heavily on familiar beats. From the setup to the character arcs, you can see most of the twists coming long before they land. While the execution is sharp and the performances keep it lively, I couldn’t help but wish the film had taken one or two bigger risks — something to break free from the well-worn formula. A fresh curveball or a bold surprise could have pushed it from being a really fun movie to something truly memorable.
I give London Calling four out of five stars. It’s not the kind of film that will redefine the action-comedy genre, nor does it pretend to. What it offers instead is pure entertainment: a slick blend of wild set pieces, fish-out-of-water humor and an unlikely duo that somehow makes perfect sense together. Josh Duhamel anchors the film with his cool, calculated presence, while Jeremy Ray Taylor provides the offbeat heart, and together they elevate the story beyond its familiar beats.
Like The Rundown before it, London Calling proves that sometimes the most fun comes not from the explosions themselves, but from watching two mismatched characters try to survive them. It’s a ride worth taking, and one I’d happily hop on again.