Review: Heads of State: A Fun-Filled Action-Comedy Ride!

Heads of State is a high-octane action-comedy that unabashedly embraces its over-the-top premise and delivers a thoroughly entertaining ride. While Bollywood films are often critiqued for their fantastical narratives, this Hollywood offering treads a similar path — but with a far more polished, visually captivating, and self-aware execution.

The film opens with an action-packed sequence featuring MI6 agent Noel Bisset (#PriyankaChopraJonas) and her CIA allies on a covert mission during Spain’s Tomatino festival. Their goal is to apprehend arms dealer-turned-terrorist Viktor Gradov (#PaddyConsidine). Things go awry, resulting in the team’s deaths, and Gradov’s forces manage to infiltrate the US security echelon through Arthur Hammond (#StephenRoot).

The narrative then shifts gears to introduce the central odd-couple duo: US President Will Derringer (#JohnCena) and UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), two leaders who despise each other but are forced to share an Air Force One flight to a NATO summit for diplomatic optics. When the plane crashes in a surprise attack, both are presumed dead — setting the stage for a wildly entertaining series of events as they navigate survival, conspiracies, and redemption.

Director Ilya Naishuller cements his place as a go-to name for kinetic, no-holds-barred action. The choreography is thrilling, and the humour — though goofy — feels intentional and endearing rather than clumsy. The banter and chemistry between Cena and Elba elevate the film, adding charm and comedic energy.

While the romantic subplot between Elba and Chopra feels undercooked and unnecessary, the lead trio clearly enjoy themselves, delivering witty lines and dynamic action with flair. Visually striking and unapologetically loud, Heads of State succeeds as a crowd-pleasing, genre-savvy entertainer.

A highly enjoyable blend of action and comedy.

Rating: ***1/2

By Keerti Kadam