Español
Springbok Women determined to topple mighty Canada
Springbok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi said her team will enter Loftus Versfeld with excitement and determination when they face Canada at 13:30 on Saturday.
Written by Felipe Patterson
But let me tell you, this movie works. It’s part Naked Gun, part Rush Hour —a self-aware buddy comedy that doesn’t just lean into the chaos; it swan-dives head-first into it, and somehow, it lands with a perfect splash. John Cena and Idris Elba have that rare, crackling chemistry where every snappy comeback lands, every sight gag hits, and you're left genuinely rooting for these two to bumble their way through global mayhem. What’s wrong with that, I ask? Absolutely nothing.
Table of contents [Show]
Two leaders, one wild, riotous ride
Right from the jump, we meet John Cena’s Will Dillinger, our muscle-bound U.S. President. He’s equal parts populist showman and action-movie hero, a man who somehow survives a coup attempt and a hostage crisis with his trademark grin intact. Cena plays Dillinger as someone who loves Hollywood glitz as much as he loves politics, and he’s game for every pun, every pratfall, and every ridiculous slow-mo grin this script throws at him. You can’t help but laugh; he’s owning it.
Then there’s Idris Elba’s Sam Clarke, the suave British Prime Minister, who serves as the perfect straight-man foil. Think Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla meets 007, but with more deadpan exasperation. Clarke delivers one-liners with a raised eyebrow that could silence a room, then flips into hand-to-hand combat that wouldn’t feel out of place in a vintage Bond flick. Their buddy-cop road trip, through exotic locales, ridiculously flimsy safe houses, and one very memorable private jet sequence, is pure adrenaline. It’s powered by Elba’s cool, collected confidence, clashing perfectly with Cena’s gleeful absurdity. It’s the kind of on-screen pairing that makes you wonder why no one thought of it sooner.
A cast of colourful chaos agents
The supporting players here aren't just juicy; they're absolute scene-stealers. Jack Quaid’s Agent Marty Comer, for instance, is part superfan, part weapons-specialist badass. He gets his own moment to shine with a solo gunfight that’s equal parts slick choreography and pure, unadulterated silliness. And let’s talk about Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Noel Bisset. She’s the film’s undeniable MVP. As Clarke’s bodyguard and love interest, she delivers one of the movie’s best action set-pieces, flipping and kicking through bad guys with Matrix-style precision. Her moves hit with a satisfying snap, and honestly, you just want more of her.
Tone, choreography, and camera magic
Director Ilya Naishuller strikes a perfectly balanced tone: frenetic yet never frantic. The action-comedy choreography deserves its own round of applause. Whether it’s a slapstick brawl that could’ve been ripped from Rush Hour or Dillinger’s attempted heroics gloriously over-the-top, every action beat lands with comedic precision. Among the Film’s standout moments are a few of quick montages, each showing a character’s desperate (and absolutely hilarious) journey to their current location after an almost near-fatal interaction. Seriously, they had me laughing so hard. Cinematographer Ben Davis fully embraces comedic slow-mo, letting Cena’s hilarious reactions and the surrounding chaos linger just long enough for you to laugh out loud before the subsequent explosion. You feel every punch, every absurd reaction shot.
Why this ride matters
Yes, the plot is ridiculous. Let’s be real, the stakes swing from “nuclear meltdown” to “male egos” in a heartbeat, and the logic flies out the window faster than a crashing private jet. But Heads of State knows exactly what it is: a popcorn-fueled homage to '80s and '90s spoof comedies, updated with two global stars who clearly love playing these parts. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, and it’s certainly not perfect. But in a landscape of grim, world-ending blockbusters that constantly demand you take them seriously, this film reminds us that laughter can be just as explosive. It's permission to just sit back and have a damn good time.
Buckle up for a good time
If you need a break from saving the world in your head, let Cena and Elba do it for you – bad haircuts, glorious slow-mo pratfalls, and all. Heads of State isn’t trying to be the next cinematic masterpiece, but it’s a riotous ride, packed with laughs and genuinely fun action sequences. And sometimes, amidst all the high-stakes drama and existential dread of the real world, that's exactly what you want. It's pure, unadulterated entertainment, and that's a win in my book. Trust me with all the things going on in the world, we all need a good laugh.
Rating: 7/10
You can catch Heads of State streaming on Prime Video
Issued on GQ South Africa | https://www.gq.co.za/entertainment/buddy-comedies-arent-dead-heads-of-state-proves-theyre-just-wilder-than-ever-c9d2c8c5-af44-4898-bd6c-5ed1a253de26
