Shadows on the Wall | Heads of State

Heads of State

dir Ilya Naishuller
prd Peter Safran, John Rickard
scr Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Harrison Query
with John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Paddy Considine, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Stephen Root, Sarah Niles, Richard Coyle, Aleksandr Kuznetsov, Katrina Durden, Sharlto Copley
release US/UK 2.Jul.25
25/UK MGM 1h56

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While there's a vague political reality undergirding this action comedy, the entire point of this deliberately silly movie is the powerful chemistry between the superbly watchable John Cena and Idris Elba as bickering leaders of the US and UK. So even if the premise is almost shockingly corny, it's easy to enjoy the effects-augmented stunt mayhem. But whatever you do, don't try to keep track of the bonkers geography.

In London, UK Prime Minister Will (Elba) is dreading his first meeting with action-star turned US President Sam (Cena). EN route to a Nato summit in Italy, they clash about everything. Then Air Force One is shot down by goons working for relentless arms dealer Gradov (Considine). Parachuting into Belarus (!), Will and Sam need battle skills to get to a safe house in Warsaw. Meanwhile, Gradov has seized control of the CIA's global surveillance system, and he sees Sam and Will as loose ends that need to be tidied to complete his nefarious plan.

In between the snarky arguments, Will and Sam bond over bigger issues, unsurprisingly becoming friends who continue to mercilessly poke fun at each other. Along the way, they meet a gung-ho safe house minder (Quaid) and tenacious spy Noel (Chopra Jonas) who has a history with Will, all while being pursued by a pair of ruthless killers (Kuznetsov and Durden). And Gradov's tech genius (Root) decides to switch sides, warning Will and Sam that there's a mole on the inside. No surprises there.

Cena and Elba are so good at the comedy, action and just oozing sheer charisma that the absurd plot doesn't really matter. They both dive fully into the physicality, and have as much fun with that as with the back-and-forth insults. Their double act is so entertaining that we almost hope for a sequel. Chopra Jonas adds spark all her own, especially with Noel's love of terrible puns. And Quaid is a standout as a fast-talking spy with no end of secrets up his sleeve.

Accompanied by a riotous song score, the destructive action set-pieces have lively, chaotic energy, with amusing fight choreography and a steady stream of groan-worthy gags. There are a number of goofy running jokes, including that these guys are gaining invaluable anecdotes for their memoirs. And with the central threat being the destruction of Nato, there's a wonderfully schmaltzy climactic speech about the importance of partnerships. In other words, this movie is so hilariously ridiculous that the stupid plot almost works.

themes, language, violence 2.Jul.25

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