What do you get when you cast Idris Elba and John Cena as bickering world leaders forced to survive a global conspiracy together?
In ‘Heads of State’, now streaming on Prime Video, the answer is a mismatched buddy-comedy draped in gunfire, geopolitical gags, and more self-awareness than you’d expect.
Directed by Hardcore Henry and ‘Nobody’ filmmaker Ilya Naishuller, ‘Heads of State’ initially feels like one of those algorithm-generated action flicks—think ‘Red Notice’—built more around star power than substance. But somewhere between the explosions, sarcastic one-liners, and surprisingly creative set pieces, it starts to work. Not because of the plot (which is absurd), or the character arcs (mostly flimsy), but because it commits to the bit—and has real fun doing so.
A Presidential Pairing. Cena plays U.S. President Will Derringer, a former Hollywood action hero elected on charisma and charm, while Elba stars as U.K. Prime Minister Sam Clarke, a gruff, ex-SAS officer with slumping approval ratings and little patience for nonsense. When the two leaders board Air Force One for a diplomatic mission, a terrorist plot sends them crashing into the Belarusian wilderness—setting off a wild ride of sabotage, spy satellites, and surprise alliances.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas joins the chaos as MI6 agent Noel Bisset, who disappears for most of the film but returns in full-force fight mode. The supporting cast includes Paddy Considine as a sneering Russian arms dealer, and Jack Quaid in a hilariously over-the-top cameo involving a safehouse shootout and a CRT monitor.
While the film’s first act stumbles—Cena’s broad comedy and Elba’s dry delivery take time to click—once the action kicks in, Naishuller’s knack for stylish, hyper-choreographed mayhem elevates everything. Chase scenes, stairwell shootouts, and a gravity-defying car chase in the third act inject the kind of inventive energy missing from many modern action-comedies.
Think ‘Mission: Impossible’ by way of ‘Hot Shots!’, with a dash of Jackie Chan-esque ingenuity. The film knows it’s ridiculous and leans into it, poking fun at spy-movie tropes while giving audiences enough pyrotechnics to justify the runtime.
Two Tones. ‘Heads of State’ does suffer from tonal whiplash. It flirts with political commentary—casting a literal actor as President, drawing thinly veiled comparisons to real-world leaders—but ultimately avoids saying much of substance. It hints at international cooperation, the absurdity of nationalism, and the theatre of politics, only to blow those ideas up with grenades (sometimes literally).
It’s both anti-sermon and anti-serious, content to revel in its own spectacle while occasionally brushing against relevance.
LionhearTV‘s Verdict. No, ‘Heads of State’ isn’t high art. It’s not even aiming for ‘Mission: Impossible’ standards. But thanks to Elba and Cena’s easy chemistry, Naishuller’s flair for outrageous action, and a gleeful embrace of its own silliness, it ends up being far more enjoyable than it has any right to be.
This is the kind of mid-budget action flick that used to thrive in theaters but now finds a second life on streaming—perfect for your Fourth of July weekend or a Friday night in. As long as you’re willing to turn your brain off, ‘Heads of State’ delivers just enough firepower to keep you entertained.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
‘Heads of State’ is now available to stream on Prime Video.
