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Gerard Butler, sandwiched between producer Alan Siegel and director Antoine Fuqua. (PMc)
On Monday evening, Gerard Butler stood outside The Darby, waving around a cigarette animatedly, flanked by a model on either side. His gesticulations punctuated his excited rant on why these ladies--who were already at the Cinema Society after-party for his latest film, Olympus Has Fallen--should actually try to see it.
"It's not JUST an action film," said Mr. Butler, which is true. It's technically an action thriller, with the following premise:
Agent Mike Banning (Butler) is a Secret Service agent assigned to Presidential Detail. After a tragic accident, he is demoted and assigned to desk duty. When the White House (Secret Service Code: "Olympus") is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President (Aaron Eckhart) is held hostage, Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As the national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning's inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President, and avert an even bigger disaster.
In Mr. Butler's mind, this is the equivalent of Sex and the City 3. "I get mad when people say, 'Oh, it's such a boys' movie,'" he said, craning up to face the two towering women who stood a good half a foot above him in their heels. "It's actually quite a chick flick too." We're assuming by "chick flick," Mr. Butler meant that there are women in the film. (Specifically, two women: Melissa Leo and Angela Bassett.)
"It's totally for women," he said, still in pitch mode. "And you don't even have to be American to like it! I'm not, and I liked it."
Fair enough.
When one of the models coyly asked if he'd be bringing a beautiful girlfriend to the L.A. premiere, the suave 300 actor replied, "I don't know, what are you doing the 19th?"
Very smooth, Mr. Butler. Very smooth.
