Bromance At The Movies

Let’s face it; it’s a fairly daunting task to save the world all by yourself.  Not to mention, doesn’t having a partner by your side make fighting crime and evil so much more fun?  We think so.

With the upcoming release of Olympus Has Fallen sequel, London Has Fallen on digital platforms from 11^th July, 2016 and onto Blu-ray & DVD from 18^th July, 2016, the ultimate buddy duo President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) and his top security detail Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) are back to save the world from imminent danger once again.  This time, however, the American duo is on foreign ground, in London.  This is new territory for the pair but Asher and Banning remain astonishingly in sync.

Whether they will admit it or not, there does seem to be a special bond, dare we say bromance… that develops between the two men working toward a mutual mission.  Remind you of any other pairs?  Han Solo and Chewbacca (Star Wars), Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs (Lethal Weapon), Agent K and Agent J (Men In Black), Woody and Buzz (Toy Story), Frodo and Sam (Lord Of The Rings), Morton Schmidt and Greg Jenko (21 Jump Street) … who doesn’t love a great onscreen bromance? In celebration of the return of the bro-mantic partnership of two alpha males in London Has Fallen, here’s a look at some of the duos who give a whole new meaning to the term “partner in crime.”

President Benjamin Asher & Mike Banning
What binds President Asher and his chief security detail Mike Banning is their mutual allegiance to duty.  Though the friendship started on shaky ground, Asher and Banning eventually came together because they knew that that when the world is in danger, it’s no longer important to play by the rules.  Don’t look for sentiment here; Asher and Banner are macho to the core.  The duo is about action, not words, and little of those need be exchanged in order for them to communicate.  Still, rare moments of softness are all we need to see the true depth of dependence, loyalty, and friendship between these two.

Han Solo & Chewbacca
Few bromances are more endearing than the one between Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). On the surface, nothing but a pair of ruthless space bums, once alone Han and Chewy are nothing but a pair of softies.  We don’t need to understand Chewbacca’s native tongue, nor see the face behind all that fur to understand the love in both his words and face when communicating with Han.  Likewise, as lethal as Han may be as an opponent, he is powerless to the requests of his beloved partner.  Leia may have written Han Solo off years ago, but at least Han can always count on Chewy to be his trusty sidekick.

Roger Murtaugh & Martin Riggs
Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover): like salt and pepper, like peanut butter and jelly, like cookies and milk. Though completely different, these duos are simply better together than apart.  When seasoned Vietnam vet and long-time LAPD homicide detective, Murtaugh, and volatile ex-special forces and LAPD narcotics officer, Martin Riggs are forced to team up on a homicide case, neither man is at his best.  Murtaugh has just turned 50 and is feeling a bit insecure about his age.  Alternatively, Riggs is suicidal after the recent loss of his wife.  The relationship starts off on a rough note, however, after Riggs comes through for Murtaugh in a critical moment to save his life, deep trust is solidified between the two.  Murtaugh welcomes Riggs into his home, and we go on to see the dynamic duo  fight badass LAPD crime in three subsequent sequels.

Agent K & Agent J
Old school and cool, Agent K and Agent J may have different approaches to just about everything, but when it comes to fighting aliens, they prove to be the yin to the other’s yang.  In Men In Black, Agent K was slow to accept Agent J.  However, by the sequel, Agent K has come to look at Agent J as a son.  Agent K has taught Agent J everything he knows, and Agent J has taught him a few things in return.  One of Will Smith’s breakout films opposite unlikely partner Tommy Lee Jones.

Woody & Buzz Lightyear
One wears a cowboy hat and carries a lasso, while the other wears a space suit and shoots laser beams for protection.  However, Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) are united by their mutual love for their owner Andy, and duty to protect him and the other toys of Andy’s room from harm.  Woody and Buzz demonstrate that the power friendship transcends all boundaries, and loyalty makes a good partnership impenetrable. You got a friend in me…

Frodo & Sam
They may not be what we think of as traditional heroes, but this humble hobbit duo make up one of the most compelling bro buddy partnerships to ever touch the silver screen.  When Frodo (Elijah Wood) is tasked with destroying a legendary ring inherited from his uncle, his life-long friend Sam (Sean Astin) willingly agrees to join him for the perilous journey.  Two sensible hobbits with no previous ambitions for personal heroism, Frodo and Sam bravely fight some of the toughest obstacles ever written.  We love an underdog, and this partnership of two undeniably charming underdogs makes for a surprisingly fierce and deeply captivating team.

Morton Schmidt & Greg Jenko
When the high-school heartthrob, Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) and class nerd, Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) team up seven years later in the police force for an undercover mission as students at their alma matter, their identities get mixed up.  Unsuspecting Schmidt finds himself in the cool crowd, while Jenko struggles through the advanced placement track.  The team help each other navigate unfamiliar territory, and in the end, Jenko learns enough chemistry to make a home-made bomb that saves the day, while Schmidt enjoys a small slice of popularity to give him the confidence he’s always lacked.  In a hilarious comedy of errors we see how two unlikely friends help each other to become the best policeman they can be, and an unstoppable force.

LONDON HAS FALLEN is on digital platforms from 11^th July, 2016 and Blu-ray & DVD from 18^th July, 2016 courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.