Heads of State review – Big Cast, Bigger Mayhem, Same Old Story
John Cena and Idris Elba? Throw in Priyanka Chopra Jonas and you’ve got a recipe for a hit. Or do you? The Amazon Prime original Heads of State is now streaming, with a charming cast and a familiar premise. But is this action comedy worth your time? Here’s our honest Heads of State review.
Let’s get one thing clear right off the bat — this is not a new format. You’ve probably seen a version of this movie before. A U.S. president gets attacked or deposed, ends up on the run, and must find a way to right the wrongs and foil a terrorist plot. From Harrison Ford in Air Force One to Jamie Foxx in White House Down to Aaron Eckhart in Olympus Has Fallen (a franchise that turned Gerard Butler into Hollywood’s favorite presidential rescuer), this has all been done before. The twist here is a Hitman’s Bodyguard-style bromance. The odd couple banter between Cena and Elba is the main draw.
Same Setup, Different Faces
The plot is straightforward. U.S. President Will Derringer (Cena) travels to England ahead of a NATO summit in Trieste. After a public disagreement, British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Elba) decides to accompany Will to the summit to boost his approval ratings and optics. Sam is a seasoned politician and former military man, so he naturally looks down on the overenthusiastic, action-hero-turned-president.
But everything goes off the rails when Air Force One is blown up, leaving both leaders stranded in Belarus, presumed dead. Now they must work together to get back to safety — while taking on notorious arms dealer Victor Gradov (Johnny Considine). Helping them along the way is Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), an MI6 operative with a fondness for puns and a flair for stylish takedowns.
Cena and Elba Carry the Chaos
The dynamic between Cena and Elba is undoubtedly the heart of the movie. Their comedic timing works more often than not, even if a few exchanges start to feel repetitive. PeeCee is an absolute scene-stealer whenever she appears as Noel Bisset. She’s sharp, funny, and more than capable in action, continuing to cement her place as a bonafide Hollywood action star.
The movie leans into its action to keep things moving, though it can’t fully outrun its bloated runtime. Sometimes, it borders on cartoonish — and not always in a good way. One blink-and-you-miss-it montage sequence (involving a character presumed dead) left me wondering whether it was meant to be funny or just bizarre. Either way, it stuck with me, which might have been the point.
Jack Quaid also pops up as an enthusiastic CIA safehouse operative, going full shotgun-wielding commando when tasked with protecting the titular heads of state (pun very much intended — Noel would be proud). He’s hilarious in the role. Carla Gugino, Sarah Niles, Richard Coyle, and Stephen Root round out the supporting cast, all of whom do a solid job. Between this and F1: The Movie (read our review here), Sarah Niles is having quite a run — and fans of Ted Lasso will enjoy seeing her outside the “Doc Sharon” persona.
Runtime Woes and Repetitive Beats
Where the movie falters most is its length. At 116 minutes, it feels longer than it needs to be. A tighter runtime and faster pacing could have elevated the entire experience. Cena and Elba can only trade barbs for so long before it loses impact, and PeeCee can only kick so many bad guys before it feels like déjà vu.
Final Verdict: Charming Cast, Forgettable Plot
Heads of State is a decent action-comedy that leans on its cast to do the heavy lifting. The plot is predictable, the action familiar, but the chemistry between the leads gives it just enough life. It may not reinvent the genre, but it delivers a watchable weekend flick with a few memorable moments.
Rating:
Watch it or Skip it?
Definitely watch it — especially if you’re in the mood for something light, chaotic, and not too serious. It’s the kind of movie you’ll enjoy for what it is, laugh a bit, and forget about by next month. Perfect for weekend couch-streaming with snacks in hand. Heads of State is now streaming on Prime Video.
So what did you think of Heads of State? Was it another rehashed action flick or did the cast save it for you? Drop a comment and tell us what worked (and what didn’t). And for more reviews, click here.
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