Heads of State Review: Priyanka Chopra, John Cena, and Idris Elba goof their way through global chaos — and it works!

Heads of State Review: Story – The Prime Minister of the UK, Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), and the President of the USA, Will Derringer (John Cena), are both at loggerheads while they are supposed to present themselves as united in front of the world. Little do they know that someone is after their lives and a global conspiracy is about to unfold. When it does, they are lucky to survive the attack. But that doesn't mean they are safe. MI Agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) takes on the task of rescuing and escorting the two safely so they can finally stop the world from spiralling and bring the adversary to justice.

Heads of State Review:

Remember when Suicide Squad (we only talk about the James Gunn version) released; we all low-key rooted for the bromance between John Cena and Idris Elba. The two men, playing niche DC characters, brought out such beautiful chemistry between Peacemaker and Bloodsport that we probably wanted more of them. Whether we will get more of them is something only James Gunn can tell us—who is gearing up for his DCU kickstarting film Superman, releasing next week. What we know right now is that Amazon Prime Video has managed to bring that same pairing in a very lucrative dynamic yet again for a not-so-serious, world-at-stake espionage drama which is not supposed to be taken seriously in any way—even when Priyanka Chopra throws a ‘Ketch-up later’ pun at you while reporting the Tomatina Festival in Spain.

Heads of State is a sharp reminder of the times when agent dramas with glamorous faces and strong muscles were our tea, and we didn’t question them much—as long as they were entertaining and brought something new every time. Read carefully: the criterion was to bring something new. This was also the time when massive movie stars were okay doing these experiments while still servicing their fandoms. The genre eventually got so exploited, with stories using the same blueprint and no novelty, that we lost hope it would ever revive to its former glory.

Enter Heads of State—a film about the President of the US and the Prime Minister of the UK, bickering like children fighting over who’s got the better water bottle. Even though the Prime Minister has some control, that doesn’t mean he’ll miss a chance to one-up the President. Add to this director Ilya Naishuller and writers Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Harrison Query, who shape a President of dystopian proportions. But maybe Will Derringer would be a better President compared to the real world right now. Will is written with all the witty one-liners we often associate with actors and celebrities filing their candidacy for office in Western elections.

ALSO READ: Detective Sherdil: From Diljit Dosanjh to Boman Irani, who plays what in comedy thriller

He is a movie star who has headlined blockbusters, owns multiple franchises, and continues to be a part of them—even after assuming office. At a press conference following a war-like situation, reporters ask him if he’ll return to a cinematic universe after his last cameo, and he happily answers—forgetting he’s the President. The very structure of this character is so hilarious that when Cena brings it to life, it becomes the film’s top highlight. In one scene, he claims to have trained with the army—forgetting to mention it was for a film role. That’s the level of seriousness we’re talking about.

The screenplay balances him out with the no-nonsense Prime Minister, Idris Elba, who is actually an army man and knows what the job demands. Caught between them is Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Love Again), who kno ws how to keep the two men in check. Between these three, the screenplay creates a hilarious game of espionage as they try to get from point A to point B without dying. The entire blueprint of Heads of State is, for lack of a better word, borrowed—like many films from the genre.

The screenplay is peppered with family scenes, predictable moments, and some clichés, but what helps is that the team does it all with a sense of freshness. The dialogues are fun enough to keep you engaged, as is the action. Imagining John Cena being the less useful guy in a street fight with local goons sounds impossible, but Ilya Naishuller does exactly that. His approach to action, conflict, and the tug-of-war between Idris and John has flair—and not the kind that feels recycled. That’s what makes the film work.

Of course, there are plenty of plot holes, many nonsensical moments, and borderline silly sequences—but it all blends well with what works for the film. What doesn’t get covered up, however, is how carelessly the movie handles its secondary characters, who merely exist. Paddy Considine is also in the mix but barely gets any lines. Sure, the ending is fun, but his character never really evolves. He’s just the man who wants to kill the President and Prime Minister and stop the NATO conference.

Talking about performances—we clearly need more of John Cena and Idris Elba together, ASAP. James Gunn, if you’re reading this, here’s your cue. Priyanka Chopra Jonas manages to hold her own between two men at the top of their game—and that’s commendable. The action is entertaining, the visuals are vibrant, and everything comes together to deliver a great watch.

Heads of State Review: Final Verdict

Not every agent drama needs to be Mission: Impossible—some can be nonsensical and still wildly entertaining, like this latest Amazon Prime Video offering. John Cena, Idris Elba, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas come together for a hilarious espionage thriller that mostly lands the punches it throws.

Heads of State is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more reviews like this and everything from the world of streaming and cinema.