John Cena and Idris Elba Ignite Political Mayhem in 'Heads of State'

Olivia Bennett, 6/28/2025Darlings, "Heads of State" serves up a deliciously chaotic cocktail of political mayhem, with John Cena and Idris Elba delivering pure cinematic escapism. Think "Air Force One" meets "Midnight Run" with a dash of explosions and just enough self-aware humor to make this popcorn-worthy spectacle absolutely irresistible.

Let's get real for a minute. Casting a former WWE superstar as POTUS feels almost too perfect in 2025, doesn't it? But here's the thing — Cena's Will Derringer transcends the obvious joke. Sure, he's playing a Hollywood heartthrob turned commander-in-chief (sound familiar?), yet there's something genuinely compelling about his performance. And then there's Elba. Good lord, Elba. His Prime Minister Sam Clarke delivers gravitas by the truckload, plus some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments that'll catch viewers completely off guard.

The plot? Think "Air Force One" had a wild night out with "Midnight Run" and woke up somewhere in Europe. Our unlikely duo gets caught in some NATO-threatening mess that sends them tumbling out of Air Force One and into a madcap dash across the continent. Between dodging sheep in the Scottish Highlands and outrunning explosions in Monte Carlo, it's absolutely bonkers. And therein lies its charm.

Fresh off his triumph with "Nobody," director Ilya Naishuller brings his signature controlled mayhem to the proceedings. The action sequences? Pure adrenaline-soaked poetry. There's this absolutely mental chase through Italy's Amalfi Coast — dubbed 'The Beast Chase' by fans already — that'll have viewers clutching their remotes in white-knuckled delight.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas shows up as MI6 agent Noel Bisset, though her character feels somewhat shortchanged. Still, when she's allowed to shine — particularly during a brutal throwdown in a Monaco casino — she proves why she's more than just star power in a fancy dress.

The film's political commentary lands about as subtly as a Michael Bay explosion. But honestly? In 2025's increasingly bizarre political landscape, maybe that's exactly what we need. There's something refreshingly honest about a movie that knows exactly what it is — pure, unadulterated entertainment with a side of geopolitical chaos.

Mind you, it's not all smooth sailing. Some dialogue-heavy scenes between our leads drag like a Monday morning meeting. But the moment anything starts exploding (which happens with delightful frequency), everything clicks back into place with spectacular precision.

Speaking of spectacular — Jack Quaid deserves a special shoutout for his brief but memorable turn as CIA station chief Marty Comer. His scene involving a vintage computer monitor and some creative problem solving is pure gold. It's exactly the kind of gloriously absurd moment that makes "Heads of State" work.

Bottom line? This isn't going to solve any real-world diplomatic crises or win awards for nuanced political commentary. But in a world where doom-scrolling through news feeds has become a national pastime, perhaps there's something to be said for a film that lets us laugh while things go boom.

"Heads of State" hits Prime Video on July 2nd, just in time to rescue summer streaming schedules from the doldrums of serious content. Perfect? Nah. Fun? Hell yes. Sometimes that's exactly what the doctor ordered — especially these days.

Prime Video's latest blockbuster "Heads of State" crashes onto screens this summer with all the grace of a bull in Pamplona — which, funnily enough, mirrors its chaotic opening sequence. In what could've been a disaster worthy of diplomatic immunity, this oddball pairing of John Cena and Idris Elba somehow works. Really works.Let's get real for a minute. Casting a former WWE superstar as POTUS feels almost too perfect in 2025, doesn't it? But here's the thing — Cena's Will Derringer transcends the obvious joke. Sure, he's playing a Hollywood heartthrob turned commander-in-chief (sound familiar?), yet there's something genuinely compelling about his performance. And then there's Elba. Good lord, Elba. His Prime Minister Sam Clarke delivers gravitas by the truckload, plus some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments that'll catch viewers completely off guard.The plot? Think "Air Force One" had a wild night out with "Midnight Run" and woke up somewhere in Europe. Our unlikely duo gets caught in some NATO-threatening mess that sends them tumbling out of Air Force One and into a madcap dash across the continent. Between dodging sheep in the Scottish Highlands and outrunning explosions in Monte Carlo, it's absolutely bonkers. And therein lies its charm.Fresh off his triumph with "Nobody," director Ilya Naishuller brings his signature controlled mayhem to the proceedings. The action sequences? Pure adrenaline-soaked poetry. There's this absolutely mental chase through Italy's Amalfi Coast — dubbed 'The Beast Chase' by fans already — that'll have viewers clutching their remotes in white-knuckled delight.Priyanka Chopra Jonas shows up as MI6 agent Noel Bisset, though her character feels somewhat shortchanged. Still, when she's allowed to shine — particularly during a brutal throwdown in a Monaco casino — she proves why she's more than just star power in a fancy dress.The film's political commentary lands about as subtly as a Michael Bay explosion. But honestly? In 2025's increasingly bizarre political landscape, maybe that's exactly what we need. There's something refreshingly honest about a movie that knows exactly what it is — pure, unadulterated entertainment with a side of geopolitical chaos.Mind you, it's not all smooth sailing. Some dialogue-heavy scenes between our leads drag like a Monday morning meeting. But the moment anything starts exploding (which happens with delightful frequency), everything clicks back into place with spectacular precision.Speaking of spectacular — Jack Quaid deserves a special shoutout for his brief but memorable turn as CIA station chief Marty Comer. His scene involving a vintage computer monitor and some creative problem solving is pure gold. It's exactly the kind of gloriously absurd moment that makes "Heads of State" work.Bottom line? This isn't going to solve any real-world diplomatic crises or win awards for nuanced political commentary. But in a world where doom-scrolling through news feeds has become a national pastime, perhaps there's something to be said for a film that lets us laugh while things go boom."Heads of State" hits Prime Video on July 2nd, just in time to rescue summer streaming schedules from the doldrums of serious content. Perfect? Nah. Fun? Hell yes. Sometimes that's exactly what the doctor ordered — especially these days.