A pitch perfect pairing

Bangkok Post

11-07-2025

What makes an action movie exciting and enjoyable, even when the story is simple or predictable? It doesn't happen often, but every now and then, a film comes along that proves a formulaic plot doesn't have to be a dealbreaker. Enter Prime Video's latest buddy action flick, Heads Of State -- a wild, high-energy, odd-couple romp that resurrects a familiar formula and injects it with sharp comedic timing and absurdly fun set pieces. Idris Elba and John Cena are the unexpected duo that make it all work.
Directed by Ilya Naishuller, Heads Of State opens with a clever premise. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sam Clarke (Elba), and the President of the United States, Will Derringer (Cena), are bitter rivals. Their public antagonism threatens the historically close alliance between their countries. But things escalate quickly when the two world leaders become the targets of a powerful and elusive foreign enemy. With global security at risk and nowhere left to turn, Clarke and Derringer are forced to rely on the only people they can trust -- each other. Teaming up with MI6 agent Noelle Bisset (Priyanka Chopra), they embark on a globe-trotting mission to unravel a deadly conspiracy, avoid being killed at every turn and somehow work together long enough to save the world.
In an amusing meta-twist, Cena's character is a former action movie star who has somehow ended up in the White House. He's brash, media-savvy, full of showbiz charm and beloved by voters more for his personality than for political acumen. On the other hand, Elba's character is a stereotypical British politician -- stoic, serious and endlessly proper. This contrast creates a dynamic that fuels most of the film's best moments. The friction between them is palpable but playfully handled, evolving into a genuine bromance as the film progresses.
I was genuinely surprised at how effective the comedic timing was between the two leads. Elba and Cena bounce off each other with effortless rhythm and their snarky exchanges never feel forced. There's a clear sense that both actors were having fun during filming and that energy translates to the screen. Their chemistry makes even the more absurd moments work, grounding the over-the-top antics in real personality.
One of the best things about Heads Of State is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. The movie leans hard into its own ridiculousness and has no problem poking fun at action movie clichés or political stereotypes. It's cheesy -- deliberately so -- and packed with exaggerated scenarios that border on satire. Whether it's a car chase that turns into a knife fight or a tense diplomatic meeting that devolves into slapstick, the film constantly straddles the line between action and parody.
Priyanka Chopra, fresh off her turn in the spy series Citadel, once again proves she's got the action heroine role down to a science. She brings agility and grit to her performance and looks even more comfortable in the action scenes this time around. Her character serves as a counterbalance to the chaotic energy of Elba and Cena, grounding the film when it threatens to fly completely off the rails.
Now, not everything about the film is stellar. The villains, for instance, are generic and largely forgettable. They exist mostly to provide someone for the leads to run from or fight with. Their motivations are vague, their personalities underdeveloped and they come across more as plot devices than real threats. Still, their one-dimensional nature doesn't significantly detract from the fun -- it just makes the film lean even more into the lighthearted, comic-book feel.
When Cena and Elba are being chased, their enemies are little more than relentless henchmen -- faceless, expendable and purely functional. But that only enhances the buddy-comedy dynamic. The tension doesn't come from the threat level; it comes from watching the two leads try to work together while everything around them falls apart.
The movie is far-fetched yet highly predictable, and it gets a bit preachy towards the end with some forced social commentary. But even that doesn't manage to drag down the sheer sense of fun that dominates the rest of the film. The tone stays consistent, the pacing never lags and the action scenes keep coming with a relentless energy.
Heads Of State delivers the kind of experience that other streaming blockbusters -- like Red Notice (2021) or Six Underground (2019) -- have attempted but failed to execute successfully. Here, the blend of spectacle, stunts and comedy feels much more cohesive. At just under two hours, the film never overstays its welcome. It keeps the momentum going with a clean, straightforward plot that doesn't demand much from the viewer, but still offers enough engagement to make you care.
From the outside, this might look like a generic, disposable action flick. I found Heads Of State to be a pleasant surprise. It's easy, silly and chaotic in all the familiar ways. The kind of movie you throw on at the end of a long week when you just want to kick back and enjoy some mindless fun.