Summer is the time for movie studios to release their blockbusters to the audience. In the case of Heads of State, it feels that the studio decided it would be better to release this one on their streaming platform instead. With all of the action and incredible sequences, Heads of State should have been given a chance in the theaters. 

Heads of State tells the story of British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and the President of the United States, Will Derringer (John Cena), working together after surviving an attack on Air Force One. We learn early on in the film that the two men are not on good terms with each other. Derringer is a former movie star whose fame put him in the position he is in, and Clarke worked hard to get where he is.

The movie gets going when the two men board Air Force One to attend a NATO summit. This goes astray, and they end up trying to find a safe house until further directions. The men get to spend more time together and start getting to know about each other. The interactions between the two are funny in how they try to one-up each other. They talk about the difference between being “gym-strong” and “strong-strong”. They also talk about being in the military versus training with them for a movie. 

Two of the highlights in the movie are Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) and Marty Comer (Jack Quaid). We meet Noel at the beginning of the film during a covert mission. Her characters is a bad ass and kicks a lot of butt. If they continue with this series, I hope we see more of her character. Marty’s character is only in a few scenes, but his attitude and willingness to help are hilarious! This is one of the best scenes in the movie, and there is a nod to John Wick: Chapter 4 in this. 

The movie is packed with some great action scenes and silly dialogue. Noel’s character is a fan of puns, so get ready to hear some quirky ones while watching the movie. Amongst all of the action, two funny montages fill you in on what some of the characters were doing. As cheesy and goofy as they are, they are both goofy and just great to watch! The movie plot is a bit formulaic, but it does have a few twists and turns that will have you guessing who the real villain is. 

Final Thoughts: Heads of State is a silly, action-packed movie that’s a lot of fun! John Cena and Idris Elba are a perfect duo. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a total badass. The movie should have been given a chance in the theaters. I would love to see another movie with these two heads of state. 

Kid-Friendly: While the appeal of John Cena might draw younger kids, this movie is rated PG-13 for a reason. There is some cursing and intense action scenes. 

Violence: There are plenty of action scenes in the film with various degrees of violence. From simple fist fights, fighting with knives, and people being shot. Not much blood is shown, but there are bloody moments. 

In the action-comedy Heads of State, the UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry that jeopardizes their countries’ “special relationship.” But when they become the targets of a powerful and ruthless foreign adversary—who proves more than a match for the two leaders’ security forces—they are begrudgingly forced to rely on the only two people they can trust: each other. Ultimately allied with the brilliant MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must go on the run and find a way to work together long enough to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world. The film also stars Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid and Sarah Niles and is directed by Ilya Naishuller.