London Calling Review: Duhamel's Hitman Babysits, Jokes Land Unevenly

This London Calling review starts with a simple pitch: a washed-up hitman, a crime boss's son and a lot of bad ideas. Allan Ungar directs this action-comedy, which stars Josh Duhamel and Aidan Gillen. It is loud, silly and lightly entertaining, even when it stumbles.

London Calling Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

Tommy Ward is a hitman whose luck has run out. After a job goes badly wrong in the UK, he flees and lands in the orbit of a new crime boss, Freddy Darby. The price of safety is an odd one.

Tommy must babysit Freddy's son, Julian, and show him how to become a man. The London Calling plot is built on that mismatch: a tired professional killer and a kid who has no idea what he is getting into. The tagline, "Become a hitman," sums up the lesson plan.

The setup is easy to follow and quickly gets the film moving. Quinn Wolfe and Omer Levin Menekse wrote the script, and it leans on odd-couple banter more than on a complicated crime mystery.

What Works in London Calling

The central pairing is the film's best asset. A weary mentor and a sheltered student is a familiar formula, but it gives the jokes and the action a clear engine. The movie knows what it wants to be, and it rarely wastes time pretending otherwise.

• Tone: The action-comedy blend stays light, so violence rarely weighs the film down.

• Pacing: At 114 minutes, it moves briskly through its set pieces.

• Music: The soundtrack includes the novelty dance track "We Like To Party! (The Vengabus)", which fits the film's cheeky mood.

Fans of action movie reviews who like their gunplay mixed with gags will find enough to enjoy. The R rating gives the film room for crude humor and rough edges.

London Calling Cast and Performances

The London Calling cast is led by Josh Duhamel as Tommy Ward. He plays the role with a world-weary charm and a knack for deadpan reactions. It suits a character who has seen better days.

Aidan Gillen plays the crime boss Freddy Darby, and he brings a dangerous edge that keeps the comedy from going completely soft. Jeremy Ray Taylor plays Julian Darby, the pupil of the story, and he sells the awkwardness of a kid out of his depth.

The supporting players include:

• Rick Hoffman as Benson

• Arnold Vosloo as Harry

• Daniel Lasker as Barnabus

The ensemble gives the film a lived-in, scrappy feel. Some of these characters deserve more room, but the cast clearly enjoys the material.

Where London Calling Stumbles

Not every joke lands. The humor can feel broad, and some of the gags rely on familiar buddy-comedy habits. If you have seen a hitman-with-a-kid story before, you will see many of the beats coming.

The film also feels modest in scale. Its action is serviceable rather than memorable, and director Allan Ungar does not always find fresh ways to stage it. A few supporting characters feel thin as well.

The film's reception reflects that. The TMDB audience score sits at 6.4 out of 10 from 142 votes, which points to a pleasant but unremarkable crowd response.

Is London Calling Worth Watching?

Yes, London Calling is worth watching if you want a light, undemanding action-comedy. It will not change the genre, but it delivers a few laughs and a likable lead pairing. Going in with modest expectations helps.

The London Calling release date was 18 September 2025, and it is a South African production in English. For a fuller sense of how the film stacks up, you can check its details on IMDb. If you enjoy comedy movie reviews with a violent twist, this is an easy pick for a relaxed evening.

If you want sharp writing or inventive action, you may come away wanting more. As a casual watch, it does the job.

Who Will Enjoy London Calling

• Fans of Josh Duhamel who like his wry, laid-back screen persona.

• Viewers who enjoy odd-couple stories about hitmen and reluctant mentors.

• Anyone who wants an easygoing action-comedy and is happy with a few rough edges. You might also like Under Fire for similar B-movie energy.