Heads of State pairs John Cena and Idris Elba in a buddy comedy wearing an expensive suit. Cena's US president Will Derringer and Elba's British prime minister Sam Clarke are forced into cooperation after an attack on Air Force One. The resulting chase is built around survival, explosions and two men who would rather not need each other.
Their chemistry is the reason it works as often as it does. The exchanges between mockery and reluctant seriousness give the film the rhythm it needs. A joke about different kinds of physical strength is funny mainly because of the performances, rather than because its wording is particularly clever.
The plot is functional decoration. Threats of global conflict and geopolitical phrases remain thin, providing permission for action rather than something to think about. There is plenty of movement: cars, exploding aircraft and a Spanish tomato fight add to the spectacle. At times it resembles an overexcited video game, though at least it knows which buttons it wants to press.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas gets less room than her role might allow, and familiar faces in supporting parts are underused. The film remains firmly interested in its central pair. Ilya Naishuller's quick cuts and energetic camerawork keep the pace up, but I miss a more distinctive visual approach behind the competent delivery of chaos.
The humour mostly works for viewers who like broad buddy comedies. Political satire is in very short supply. The film is designed for switching off, not examining the institutions represented by its heroes, and it settles into a middle ground between enjoyable and potentially more interesting.
I give Heads of State 3 out of 5 stars. It does not invent anything, but it honestly delivers a noisy action comedy driven by two stars trying to outdo one another. Their sparring provides enough fun to compensate for some of the flatness around them.
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