‘Heads of State’ movie review: Priyanka Chopra, Idris Elba, John Cena shine in clean, lean fun summer action film that deserves big-screen release

Heads of State is a lesson in clean, lean, fun action—a welcome change to entertainment this summer. This buddy comedy movie, in line with the Jump Street series or even Bad Boys, is a perfect outlet for two actors with range—Idris Elba and John Cena. Joining them is the excellent Priyanka Chopra, making it quite a trio that deserves their outing on the big screen.

The film follows Idris Elba and John Cena (we saw them like this last in The Suicide Squad) as UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke and US President Will Derringer, who—you guessed—hate each other’s guts. Cena’s POTUS is green, barely six months into office, but he has a ‘fish-and-chips’ bone to pick with Elba’s PM, a six-year incumbent who faces dipping approval ratings.

Heads of State is quirky and lighthearted, with Harrison Query joining the crisp writing of the TMNT-to-Ghost Protocol–fame duo, Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec. Honestly, I have never seen bad puns written into character development in such a way that the cringe makes it all the more entertaining.

Of course, the movie lacks the gracious post-production that trims the extra and files the edges smooth, but given that it did not get a theatre release, such a level of scrutiny would not be fair. Ilya Naishuller is back at the helm for his third film, bringing his A-game from his directorial success in Nobody.

Cena channels his own version of a Schwarzenegger-isque Trump-like avatar, bringing his A-game to yet another bald-eagle-soaring-with-stars-and-stripes-in-the-background American caricature after Peacemaker. Elba is the broody British typecast, and the romantic tension between him and MI6 agent Noel Bisset, played by Priyanka Chopra, is quite a treat to watch.

Paddy Considine as the big baddie Viktor Gradov and Jack Quaid as a CIA agent add so much to the film with almost limited screen presence. Watch out for the great performances from the rest of the cast: Stephen Root (as a hacker) and Carla Gugino (as US VP), along with Sarah Niles as US POTUS Chief of Staff Simone Bradshaw and Richard Coyle as UK PM Chief of Staff Quincy Harrington.

Action sequences are tight, yet comical. Elba, Cena, and Chopra own their respective screen presence yet give one another enough room.

As far as direct-to-OTT films go, we in India would call this one ‘paisa vasool’ (value-for-money), as this one-hour-fifty-something-minute flick has no slow moments. In fact, it has so much exposition to pack into the tight timeline that director Naishuller pulls it off in quick, comical montages (something out of a Wes Anderson–Edgar Wright–Guy Ritchie playbook).

We are yet to figure out why Amazon did not have more faith in this to give it a more upgraded post-production and a cinema hall release. It, at least, warranted more marketing—something that biggies Netflix, and even Disney, seem to be fumbling with their new IPs.

This Chopra–Elba–Cena headliner owns its role as a lighthearted action thriller, especially in a year that saw the world go through quite a strain (Ukraine-Russia, Iran-Israel, India-Pakistan, Trump tariffs, and more). But instead of lazy escapism, the movie centres itself around US foreign policy and NATO, bringing a bit of relief into an otherwise tense topic.

Film: Heads of State

Director: Ilya Naishuller

Cast: John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra, Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid

Where to watch: Prime Video (Amazon)

Rating: 4/5 | ★★★★☆

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