The phrase “head of state” has never really sat well with me because in my part of the world the phrase is used more often to refer to individuals with big heads, contrary to the actual legal meaning. So, naturally, I had a bias towards seeing this movie. However, the person who recommended the film(because I saw it initially and ignored the hell out of it) is a very trusted individual. Moreover, what could possibly go wrong?
These few weeks, I've been on a roll with action movies and every preceding action film I see always seems better than the previous one. The movie “Heads of States” stayed true to this pattern and because of that, here is a review of the film.
About The Movie
Heads of State is an action comedy film which brings together an unlikely duo Idris Elba and John Cena. The movie follows the story of the president of the United States and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who have to work together despite their mutual loathing of each other. In a bid to demonstrate unity, they decide to travel together aboard Air Force One.
Air force is shot down by a Russian super-criminal whose aim is to kill both the president and the prime minister. Amidst the turbulence they both manage to survive and now they must find a way to return safely to the white house and while at it, find the inside man who is relaying all the intel and their motif behind it all.
Released on the 2nd of July, 2025 and directed by Ilya Naishuller, this movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It stars actors like Priyanka Chopra, John Cena, Idris Elba. Jack Quaid and Paddy Considine. All of whom are phenomenal actors.
My Opinions
This film’s comedy dynamic is fueled by the mismatched duo, with Idris Elba bringing his signature wit and sarcasm, while John Cena brings a humorously over the top action hero bravado. The chemistry between the two lead actors is undeniable as they play off each other’s strengths and weaknesses perfectly. Priyanka Chopra also shines as she embodies a feisty MI6 agent, bringing an alluring kind of energy to the movie.
The characters are all phenomical, including the antagonist. The antagonist plays a major role as he is always one step ahead, keeping viewers on their tippy toes. I particularly enjoyed the antagonist’s acting as he fit exceptionally into the ‘bad guy’ role.
Although this action film is enjoyable, I couldn't help but notice the lack of depth in the storyline. The plot is fairly straightforward and anyone with a good sense of reasoning can see the beginning from the end. This means the film lacks the element of surprise.
My favourite scene in this movie featured Jack Quaid. After seeing the series ‘The Boys’, I grew a bit fond of this particular actor courtesy of his goody-two shoes role in that series but seeing him embody an entirely different character is quite astonishing. In this scene, he is tasked with protecting the president and the prime minister once they arrive at the ‘safe house’. However, shortly after they arrive, their location is compromised and they need to get out alive. Although things don't really go as planned, Quaid jumps in to save the day, enabling the duo to escape.
