Whereas Hollywood blockbusters are nonetheless fairly able to producing bona fide solo heroes for audiences to cheer and fear for like John Wick and [insert specially skilled Liam Neeson character name], fewer and farther between are the two-hander motion romps that populated video rental cabinets within the ’80s and ’90s. That semi-dearth of duos is essentially why I am so grateful that John Cena and Idris Elba’s rip-roaring new action-comedy Heads of State exists.
Launch Date: July 2, 2025
Directed By: Ilya Naishuller
Written By: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Harrison Question (Story by Harrison Question)
Starring: John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyaka Chopra-Jonas, Paddy Considine, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Stephen Root
Score: PG-13 for sequences of robust violence/motion, language and a few smoking.
Runtime: 113 minutes
As produced by Amazon MGM — whose identify is principally buddy branding in and of itself — Heads of State seemingly might have set Cena and Elba up with the dumbest story conceivable and their mixed abilities would have nonetheless made it value watching. Fortunately, screenwriting duties have been dealt with partially by veteran scribes Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, whose most distinguished addition to the motion style was unquestionably co-writing Mission: Unattainable – Ghost Protocol.
Cena brings his WWE confidence because the comparatively new President of america Will Derringer, who was a globally acknowledged motion film star previous to coming into politics. Naturally, Will is the overly vocal and impulsive yin to the measured and clandestine yang of Elba’s Sam Clarke, Britain’s Prime Minister. Opposites initially do not entice as they’re introduced collectively to unveil a plot-driving plan to fellow NATO leaders, however a nagging terrorist risk forces them to see one another’s strengths as an alternative of simply the faults. It is a traditional set-up, and the 2 stars make each the clashing and vibing really feel real all through.
It is the third and largest film but from director Ilya Naishuller, who’s arguably liable for injecting the most important surprises and quirkiest moments that make Heads of State stand aside from the ocean of overly critical political thrillers and lesser-than action-comedies that sacrifice wowzers stunts for ad-libbed one-liners.
Collectively, John Cena and Idris Elba are humorous, charismatic and badass sufficient that I already need a sequel.
Idris Elba is the sort of actor who brings his A-game to each position, and he is fairly polished at selecting tasks that hit above a sure line of high quality. Cena by and huge shares that first trait, even when his physique of labor sits on a barely decrease echelon. Put the 2 collectively, and the place one may count on to see two larger-than-life personalities combating for screen-supremacy, and the result’s as an alternative completely complementary. The pairing labored in The Suicide Squad inside a bigger ensemble however totally thrives right here.
Cena’s Will Derringer is essentially a caricature that mixes Donald Trump’s political bravado and impulsive outbursts with former Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger’s embrace of his Hollywood previous. He is the sort of man who loves to unravel issues with simply digestible catchphrases, which initially places him at odds with Elba’s extra stoic and contemplative Sam Clarke. Their argumentative dynamic creates a little bit of a grind early on as everybody’s personalities are unfold out in full, however the pair’s chemistry is locked in straightaway, making this fashion simpler to look at than an precise political debate.
The 2 leaders are compelled into teaming up aboard Air Pressure One after the flight will get focused by a staff of goons guided by Paddy Considine’s shady mustachioed villain Viktor Gradov. As soon as the 2 heroes are free and away from the airplane crash, they’re compelled to go on the run to hunt out a welcoming U.S. embassy, with loads of anticipated and surprising threats getting of their means. For those who suppose it would not get previous watching Cena and Elba punch, kick and shoot enemies with gleeful aplomb, you would be proper.
Not that the 2 titular Heads present the one star energy. Priyanka Chopra-Jonas is each bit as badass as her co-stars whereas portraying MI6 agent Noel Bisset, whose extended absence throughout a bit of the film feels extra like a scheduling concern than a narrative plus-up. The Boys and Novocaine‘s Jack Quaid pops in for some brazen and brutal delights, and may really boast essentially the most spotlight reel-ready look of anybody.
No one director Ilya Naishuller will get his greatest finances but, with a number of enjoyable, distinctive, and explosive moments to point out for it.
Russian filmmaker Ilya Naishuller made his mark on Hollywood and U.S. audiences with the 2015 motion flick Hardcore Henry (finances: $2 million), which is notorious for being shot solely from the first-person perspective of its fundamental character. Subsequent up, Naishuller turned Bob Odenkirk right into a low-key motion hero with 2021’s No one (finances: $16 million), which was a sufficiently big hit to spark a sequel (coming later this 12 months).
With Heads of State, nevertheless, the director is engaged on a very completely different degree, and his skill to scale his abilities up turns into fairly evident throughout the first large motion sequence onboard Air Pressure One. Truly, the moments that happen outdoors the airplane are the very best indicators of Naishuller’s skill to shake up the norm. A few essentially the most memorable pictures within the movie come from cameras which can be connected to drone explosives aimed on the POTUS’ airplane, calling again to Hardcore Henry‘s P.O.V. method.
Different stunts and pictures peppered all through the movie additionally exhibit Naishuller’s imaginative method to camerawork – be looking out for a personality who’s lacking his entrance enamel – which helps give Heads of State extra persona than the vast majority of much less playful releases. Even when explosive weapons aren’t in use, Will and Sam’s hand-to-hand fight scenes are in some way simply as a lot enjoyable and thrilling to look at.
That applies totally to the principle antagonist’s high pair of hyper-violent enforcers, Sasha the Killer (Alexander Kuznetsov) and Olga the Killer (Katrina Durden), who appear to defy dying as they proceed chasing the 2 world leaders wherever obligatory. The duo would have felt proper at residence in The Raid or Oldboy.
I admittedly anticipated extra of these distinctive and surprising moments all through, and it is solely doable that making such an enormous finances film for Amazon MGM stymied a few of Ilya Naishuller’s wackier instincts so as to preserve every part on a transparent and comprehensible narrative path.
Regardless of early points with plot and tone, Heads of State boasts a reasonably flawless second half.
Had a model of Heads of State come out within the ’80s alongside the comparable buddy motion classics Deadly Weapon and 48 Hrs., the political exposition specified by the primary act seemingly would not have impressed a second look. However at a time when real-world information is affected by partisanship at each degree, watching any sort of immature tête-à-tête between two international leaders – even a fictional comedic-minded one – can immedaitely change into exhausting.
Past the politico murk, the movie’s opening sequences even have quite a lot of exposition and character introductions to get by way of, which is the place audiences first meet Chopra-Jonas’ Noel and Sarlto Copley’s Agent Coop. Which results in introductions for Will’s Chief of Workers Simone (Sarah Niles), Sam’s second banana Quincy (Richard Coyle) and Viktor Gradov’s American quasi-henchman Arthur (Stephen Root). Let’s additionally not overlook Will’s Vice President Elizabeth Kirk, although Carla Gugino makes her first look a bit in a while.
After the stellar Air Pressure One sequence, nevertheless, John Cena and Idris Elba are faraway from the majority of the opposite fundamental characters, and that is when issues get cooking. With out anybody else yapping of their ears, Will and Sam are compelled to fulfill within the center and work collectively, which is the muse of any nice buddy motion film. The film by no means loses sight of that kinship, both, all through all the opposite bone-breaking brawls, bullet-hell gunfights, and twisty plot machinations.
With its surprisingly deft mix of high-stakes motion and light-hearted comedy that bumps in opposition to the PG-13 score, Heads of State is 100% the sort of guilt-free popcorn-chomping good time that Amazon MGM needs to be making, and is certainly worthy of a visit to the theater, versus streaming at residence. President John Cena’s biceps need to be seen on the most important display screen doable… as a result of America.