In today’s world of instant streaming, films often feel more like background noise than immersive experiences and Heads of State, Prime Video’s latest action-comedy headlined by John Cena, Idris Elba, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, unfortunately, falls squarely in that category.
Directed by Hardcore Henry and Nobody filmmaker Ilya Naishuller, this globe-trotting adventure sets out to be a thrilling blend of political satire and buddy comedy. Instead, it ends up being the kind of movie that plays in the background while you fold laundry, scroll through Instagram, or question your life choices during a quiet Friday evening.
A Familiar, If Not Exhausting, Recipe : Heads of State
From the opening scenes, it’s clear Heads of State isn’t aiming for cinematic greatness. Rather, it proudly wears the badge of “leave-your-brain-at-the-door” entertainment — a label once reserved for zany Bollywood masala films like Main Hoon Na. In fact, Priyanka Chopra herself has been on the promotional circuit downplaying expectations, calling it an easy, fun watch. But even that bar feels too high once the movie starts rolling.
The plot kicks off with a high-concept setup: the President of the United States (Cena) and the British Prime Minister (Elba) are onboard a plane that gets attacked mid-air. After a chaotic crash landing in Belarus, they find themselves stranded and presumed dead. Enter Chopra, playing an MI6 agent with minimal backstory, who shows up halfway into the film to help them reach a NATO summit in Italy.
Now, that could’ve been fun — two world leaders with wildly different personalities stuck together, chased by enemies, navigating geopolitical chaos. Sadly, what follows is a series of over-the-top set pieces stitched together with uneven humor and a wafer-thin storyline.
The Big Problem: No Stakes, No Sense in Heads of State
One of the first things that stands out — or doesn’t — is the absence of logic. For some unexplained reason, the President and Prime Minister decide not to reveal to the world that they’ve survived the crash. No social media update, no satellite call, not even a rogue tweet from a burner account. Why? The movie never says. This narrative choice seems designed solely to keep the story moving — or at least pretending to.
Instead of using their positions of global influence, the characters go rogue and wander through hostile territory, encountering various villains who feel like NPCs in a video game. Paddy Considine pops in as the so-called big bad, but he’s so underused and generic that you forget he’s even a threat.
The movie lacks a clear antagonist, making the entire journey feel aimless. There’s no sense of urgency or stakes. Without a compelling villain or a strong emotional arc, all we’re left with are quippy exchanges, repetitive action, and shiny visuals — none of which feel grounded in any real-world or fictional tension.
The Trio: Cena Clowns, Elba Commits, Chopra Coasts
John Cena, fresh off his successful comedic turns in Peacemaker and Vacation Friends, leans heavily into his usual brand of self-aware silliness. He plays the former movie-star-turned-president like a cross between Donald Trump and Dwayne Johnson, all bravado and no substance. His comedic timing is sharp, but after a while, it feels like he’s recycling gags from past roles.
Idris Elba, on the other hand, brings more gravitas than the script deserves. His character — a serious, diplomatic British PM — serves as the straight man to Cena’s buffoonery. He handles the role with surprising sincerity, even as the material lets him down. One can’t help but admire his commitment, even if his lines rarely land with the weight they aim for.
Priyanka Chopra arrives fashionably late, adding a dash of glamour and action chops. She reprises a version of her Citadel persona — mysterious, fierce, always in control — but like her co-stars, she’s trapped in a film that doesn’t know what to do with her. Her presence feels tacked on, and her motivations are barely explored.
Pretty But Hollow
Heads of State looks expensive, but never feels immersive. Much of it appears to be filmed on green screens or sound stages, lending it an artificial sheen. There’s no texture to the environments, no grit or grime — just glossy surfaces and high-definition explosions. The cinematography feels over-processed, the production design too polished. It’s streaming-era aesthetics at their most generic.
This visual flatness is echoed in the film’s tone. The political backdrop is treated with absolute superficiality. Cena’s character is said to be “Trump-like,” but beyond the surface-level caricature, we learn nothing about his politics or personal ideology. He approaches the G20 summit like it’s a movie premiere. Elba’s backstory is equally thin, with the only emotional beat coming from a vague romantic subplot. If you’re hoping for some clever commentary on global diplomacy or modern leadership, look elsewhere.
Writing Without Wit
Perhaps the biggest letdown is the film’s writing. With a setup like this, you’d expect rapid-fire banter, clever one-liners, and comedic gold mined from the clashing personalities. What we get instead is a barrage of jokes that feel like they were written by an algorithm. You can almost picture a writer’s room frantically testing 20 variations of a gag, hoping one sticks. None do.
There’s no rhythm, no bite. Even the timing between Cena and Elba, which should have been this film’s saving grace, feels off. Their chemistry never really sizzles. Every exchange plays like a first draft.
A Streaming Symptom Heads of State
What Heads of State ultimately suffers from is the same issue plaguing many modern streaming movies: it feels like content, not cinema. It’s a product designed to be watched passively, not engaged with emotionally. You could miss 30 minutes and not feel like you lost the plot — because there wasn’t much of one to begin with.
It’s a pity because the ingredients were there — big stars, a timely premise, and a director known for adrenaline-pumping action. But instead of being a fun ride, Heads of State is a forgettable detour.
Final Verdict
Heads of State isn’t the worst movie you’ll see this year, but it might be the most disposable. It’s the kind of film that will trend for a weekend, generate a few memes, and disappear into Prime Video’s endless scroll. For fans of Cena, Elba, or Chopra, there’s some charm to be found. But for anyone expecting a clever, exciting action-comedy — this isn’t it.
If you’re looking for background noise while multitasking, go ahead. But if you’re hoping for a film with heart, brains, or even a functioning plot, Heads of State might leave you wishing you’d just rewatched Main Hoon Na instead.
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