Heads of State Review

Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec have collaborated to write films like Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), and jointly executive produced the Prime Video film Without Remorse. The duo have reunited to co-write alongside Harrison Query Heads of State. The action film boasts a star-studded cast including John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Jack Quaid.

Heads of State follows the UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Elba) and US President Will Derringer (John Cena), who have an unfriendly and very public rivalry that is jeopardizing their countries’ relationship. However, the duo must work together alongside M16 agent Noel Bisset (Chopra Jonas) to take down and thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the world.

HSOS 2023 UT 230510 JAMCHI 01448RC2 3000 — Jack Quaid

HSOS 2023 UT 230524 JAMCHI 03957R2C2 3000 — Jack Quaid

Will Derringer is a former actor who has become President of the United States and heads to meet with the Prime Minister, Sam Clarke, for a press conference. It quickly turns into a disaster as it becomes about the president’s past and the prime minister’s dating life. With the prime minister’s approval numbers tanking and the president trying to make good, he invited him onto Air Force One. Although the duo makes it off the plane, the prime minister and president are presumed dead.

This leads to Derringer and Clarke being on the run in foreign lands to try to get back to their homeland to figure out who put out the hit on them. Along the way, they run into Noel Bisset, who is tasked with helping protect the duo. The dynamic of Will Derringer feels like a variation of Donald Trump with how he handles things, and Clarke is almost disgusted by his actions and how he intends to handle things. The banter feels intentional with how it is written and portrayed.

Elba and Cena are hilarious together. Cena, over the years, has found his knack with his uncharacteristic comedic timing, while Elba has his own variation of funny. Early on, when they are laying down the foundation of this hatred for one another, you see some hilarious, playful banter. You could tell these two were having the time of their lives, and that to me was worthy of watching in itself.

John Cena and Idris Elba shine in Heads of State

Priyanka Chopra Jonas enters the picture it takes some time for you to warm up to her being part of the trio. At first, it almost felt like it would’ve been funnier without her in the picture, but as the third act starts to flow, the three of them work as a cohesive unit to bring it all home.

Ilya Naishuller knows how to direct an action movie. We saw that with his direction in the 2021 surprise hit Nobody. So it almost shocked me that this almost felt like it was way above him? The action sequences in Nobody were quite simplistic, with often great hand-to-hand combat. Heads of State had more razzle-dazzle to it with the bigger set pieces and sequences. I expect more from his direction, honestly, and was quite taken aback with the overall work he did in the film.

Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec wisely chose not to let the film take itself too seriously. When you watch the trailer, you are hoping to get a no-nonsense action film that will make you laugh, and you get just that. As a result, you get cliché moments that are predictable, wildly insane, and even have you saying “WTF,” but that is okay, because they sold that to us in the trailer.

Is Heads of State Worth Watching?

Heads of State is the perfect streaming movie to turn on during the holiday weekend. John Cena and Idris Elba are a dynamic pairing that will have you laughing from the first interaction. Every movie doesn’t need to be taken seriously, so I ask you to do the same with this. Just turn it on, turn off your brain, and don’t overthink it, and enjoy the ride. You’ll thank me after the movie is over.