Heads of State is a tonally lopsided buddy action comedy. With middling slapstick humor and poor attempts at witty banter, it struggles to provide genuine laughs. But thanks to some impressive action sequences – featuring a badass showing from Priyanka Chopra Jonas – and compelling performances from the rest of the cast, Heads of State still manages to be an entertaining popcorn movie.
The unfortunately timely premise centers on a rivalry between two world leaders and their reluctance to work together, even amid a global crisis. One side of it is Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) who, having worked his way through the British Parliament all the way up to becoming Prime Minister the old-fashioned way, is understandable in his strong disdain for his counterpart, movie star-turned-U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena). And to a lesser extent, the same can be said of Will’s attitude towards Sam: he believes that Sam should take him seriously, regardless of the route he took to the White House.
This constant clash of opposing views is initially promising – the seasoned politician teaming up with a celebrity hire to fight terrorists is a solid foundation for a few laughs. At the very least, it should’ve led to some comical bickering between two charismatic actors. Unfortunately, Sam and Will’s personal conflict mostly amounts to dull bouts of one-upmanship and backhanded compliments.
What passes for witty banter between Sam and Will is yawn-inducing. None of the jabs at America’s fixation with pop culture or stereotypical displays of British elitism work as apparently intended. Most of the physical humor falls flat as well, which is disappointing considering Cena’s track record. Scenes depicting a person accidentally being set on fire, characters clumsily leaping from a train, or someone gassing themselves with a smoke grenade all strain to garner a smile, let alone induce laughter. This is a shame given how compelling Elba and Cena are in scenes where they aren’t trying to be funny. With Heads of State being the first time they’ve reunited since 2021’s The Suicide Squad, their on-screen chemistry reflects a strong work relationship.
Elba does a great job as Sam. His gruff demeanor and sharp line delivery echoes the sentiments of a cynical government official. When Air Force One is shot down, leaving Sam and Will stranded in a foreign country, it’s his abrasive yet well-meaning assertions that accurately convey the gravity of their situation. Cena’s charming depiction of Will, on the other hand, is much more hopeful. Will’s naïve understanding of politics can be grating at times, as reflected by Elba’s dismayed responses. That said, Will’s moral compass always points in the right direction; Cena’s enthusiastic ramblings about uniting the world via Will’s self-proclaimed “iconic” action films are as endearing as they are nonsensical.
Elba and Cena make a good pair, their “odd couple” vibe proving to be relatable despite the wild situations their characters keep finding themselves in. And thanks to director Ilya Naishuller (known for Hardcore Henry and Nobody), they also look good throwing punches and dodging bullets. The car chases, explosive shootouts, and chaotic fist fights are all entertaining.
Of course, given Naishuller’s pedigree for shooting great action scenes, this sort of thing is expected. What’s unexpected is Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ awesome portrayal of Noel Bisset, an MI6 agent sent to protect Sam and Will on their journey back to the US. Known for performing her own stunts, Jonas seems to effortlessly float between enemies as she violently beats them to a pulp. And that’s to say nothing of the times when she has a weapon; it’s exciting to see her take down several goons with their own guns, moments before tackling a villain hanging from a helicopter.
The rest of the cast have solid showings. Paddy Considine’s stoic portrayal of the hardened war criminal Viktor Gradov is convincing, and Carla Gugino and Jack Quaid are also engaging as Vice President Elizabeth Kirk and Agent Marty Comer, respectively – the latter of which providing some of Heads of State’s only effective comedic moments.
