'Heads of State' Review: Elba and Cena Bring ‘80s Buddy Comedy Energy to a Silly Action Ride
- Dan Bremner
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
By Dan Bremner - July 2, 2025
Blindsided by the trailer just weeks ago, I couldn’t resist this delicious premise of John Cena and Idris Elba as rival leaders dodging bullets in an Amazon Prime action-comedy that reeked of ‘80s buddy-comedy vibes. Directed by Ilya Naishuller (Nobody), this mid-budget dose of dumb fun deserved a proper theatrical release—it’s a bloody shame it didn’t get one, as it’s a crowd-pleasing blast best enjoyed with a rowdy cinema crowd. While Heads of State lacks originality, it’s a kinetic, unpretentious romp that cinema desperately needs more of.
What is 'Heads of State' about?
U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) and British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry. However, when Air Force One gets shot down over enemy territory, they find themselves on the run and working together to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world.
The action is rock-solid, with Naishuller’s stylish camera work of top-to-bottom shots à la John Wick: Chapter 4, POV shots and camera flipping with the action, while delivering practical stunts, car chases, and gunfights. The final sequence, with a limo, rocket launchers, and a fire engine, is an absolute riot of escalating carnage. Some cartoony CGI creeps in, but the practical chaos keeps it highly enjoyable and exceedingly well done over most streaming originals. The mid-budget polish gives it a tactile charm, outshining Amazon’s usual streaming slop.
Cena’s President Will Derringer, a brash, all-American muscle head action-star actor turned president, and Elba’s Prime Minister Sam Clarke, a suave, sharp-tongued Brit with a military background, are a match made in buddy-comedy heaven. Cena leans into his need-to-be-limed charm, while Elba’s cool-headed intensity that takes politics seriously makes their rivalry a fun contrast. Their performances sell the arc from bitter foes to reluctant allies.
Their chemistry, proven in The Suicide Squad, crackles with snappy banter and rivalry that morphs into begrudging respect (Would you believe it? They're not so different after all), pure ‘80s buddy-comedy gold. They start at each other’s throats but find common ground, solving everything with glorious violence. It’s silly, dumb, and over-the-top, but done with such crowd-pleasing gusto it’s hard not to grin, sit back and just enjoy it.
Priyanka Chopra shines as a badass with a meaty supporting role, racking up a hefty body count with slick action chops. Sadly, Paddy Considine’s generic villain is a wasted opportunity, and the White House traitor twists are so obvious you’ll spot them from the opening credits. Jack Quaid’s brief cameo is fun but fleeting, gone before you can blink, despite his heavy presence in the marketing.
The premise of a U.S. President and U.K. Prime Minister teaming up is novel, but it could’ve leaned harder into satire or political bite (Cena’s President is sadly not Trump). Instead, it plays it safe with ‘80s sensibilities, like Lethal Weapon meets Midnight Run, minus the ultra-violent action. On top of the mostly strong back-and-forth between the leads, the constant visual gags land hard in a pleasant surprise. The needle-drops (Kickstart My Heart? Sabotage? Really), though, feel so overdone in the year 2025.
Naishuller keeps the pace brisk, with no filler dragging the fun. This isn’t part of a franchise, but its standalone vibe echoes the one-off action flicks of the ‘80s, unlike the sprawling Fast & Furious saga. It’s a refreshing throwback, especially in an era of bloated superhero sequels. Then again, depending on how well this does (Something truly impossible to gauge with vague streaming claims of “Success”), I'm sure we'll get a franchise out of this, and I'd happily see these two come back for another implausible reason to blow stuff up.
What makes 'Heads of State' worth watching?
Heads of State is a silly, delightful action-comedy with constantly funny chemistry between the charismatic duo of Cena and Elba, stylish action, and an ‘80s throwback charm, but its predictable twists and untapped premise hold it back from true greatness. Deserved a wide theatrical release, as this was a blast with a crowd. Truly turn your brain off dumb fun.
'Heads of State' is streaming now on Prime Video - Watch here
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