‘Heads of State’ Review: John Cena and Idris Elba Lead a Mismatched Buddy-Comedy in Political Action Disguise

While ‘Heads of State’ has the charisma of its two leads—John Cena as a Hollywood president and Idris Elba as a buttoned-up prime minister—the action-comedy offers familiar set-pieces and fleeting satire in a film that feels more recycled than revolutionary.

In a world where global politics could use some imaginative escapism, Heads of State flirts with the idea of an alternate reality but ultimately defaults to genre clichés. Directed by Nobody’s Ilya Naishuller, this action-comedy pairs John Cena and Idris Elba as unlikely political allies turned survival buddies—but despite their magnetic screen presence, the film quickly dives into standard-issue shootouts, superficial satire, and a predictable buddy dynamic that can’t quite elevate the stale formula.

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Familiar Premise, Star Power Spark

The genius—and main selling point—of Heads of State lies in its casting. John Cena plays Will Derringer, a former movie star turned U.S. president whose campaign slogan “We did it at the box office and now we’ll do it in the Oval Office” reflects his shallow, Hollywood-first approach to leadership. Idris Elba portrays British Prime Minister Sam Clarke, a no-nonsense, Cambridge-educated veteran politician with dwindling poll numbers and zero tolerance for image-over-substance governance.

Their chemistry anchors the film’s early scenes. Elba delivers his barbs with righteous indignation (“You’re the Commander-in-Chief, not some DJ in Vegas”), while Cena’s Derringer is all affable bravado masking cluelessness—a balance the actor pulls off with surprising subtlety.

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Plot Kicks Off Midair—Then Stalls on Ground

After an awkward press conference in London, their handlers—played by a grounded Sarah Niles and a sly Richard Coyle—convince the leaders to take a joint PR trip on Air Force One. Naturally, the real story begins once the plane is hijacked by flight attendants moonlighting as assassins (a stretch, even for satire). The leaders narrowly escape via parachute, crash-landing somewhere between Belarus and Warsaw.

From there, the movie falls into a generic action loop: rocket launchers, car chases (including a limo-in-reverse set piece), leaps from balconies, and endless close shaves—all choreographed with the style but not the inventiveness Naishuller is known for. The emotional arc between the two men—enemies turned comrades—is entirely expected.

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Priyanka Chopra Jonas Offers Grit, But Gets Lost

The film introduces Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Noel, an undercover MI6 agent working with the CIA, first seen in the blood-red chaos of Spain’s La Tomatina festival. While the character has potential—and gets a last-act resurgence with some gritty moves—her presence is underused, reduced to plot catalyst more than character.

In supporting roles, Paddy Considine brings menace as an arms dealer, Jack Quaid adds levity as a bumbling CIA chief, and Carla Gugino turns in a strong, if brief, performance as the U.S. vice president.

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A Quick Jab at Isolationism, Then Back to Basics

In one late-scene reveal, the true villain behind the chaos is unmasked—a monologue about dismantling NATO and prioritizing “America First” attempts to anchor the film in real-world political allegory. But the moment is brief, unsubtle, and almost out of sync with the tone of the rest of the movie. It underscores how Heads of State flirts with relevance but ultimately opts for broad punches over deep commentary.

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Heads of State had the potential to be a smart political farce or even a sly satire of global leadership in the influencer age. Instead, it settles for being a serviceable action-comedy elevated only by its leads’ charisma. John Cena and Idris Elba keep it watchable, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas adds occasional edge, but ultimately the film crashes into familiar tropes before delivering any real impact. For a movie about high-stakes diplomacy, the biggest negotiation here is with audience expectations.