Somebody, Quick! Arrest Jack Quaid for Stealing Amazon's 'Heads of State'
I'll admit, I wasn't exactly thrilled when I sat down to watch Amazon's latest big-budget action comedy, "Heads of State". My day was already off to a rough start, and the thought of spending the rest of my morning watching another generic, patriotic shoot-em-up starring actors I enjoy and wish better things for didn't exactly fill me with excitement. But, as it often does, Amazon proved me wrong. "Heads of State" is exactly what you're expecting - a fun, mass-audience-appealing premise with explosions - but somehow, miraculously, it's even better than I anticipated.
The Plot: Obvious, Yet Effective
The plot of "Heads of State" is, well, obvious. You'll see the twists coming a mile away. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it's one of the movie's greatest strengths. The story follows two unlikely heroes: John Cena as Will Derringer, the President of the United States, and Idris Elba as Sam Clarke, the British Prime Minister. Their differences are stark: Derringer is a Hollywood action star with no public service record who coasted into office on charisma, while Clarke is a pessimistic, no-nonsense former military man who can't take Derringer seriously. When Air Force One is shot down, they're forced to work together to survive and get to the bottom of the attack before the alliance of nations splits apart.
A Mission to Save NATO (and the World)
The mission is "Save NATO", but it's cleverly done in a way that rises above the bog-standard affair you might expect. A Russian arms dealer, played by Paddy Considine, has an axe to grind with both the US and the UK, but he's also working with a political insider to destabilize international relations. This involves hacking into a classified global surveillance system and releasing state secrets that reveal NATO allies are backstabbing each other? Yeah, it sounds crazy, but trust us, it works.
The Cast: A Killer Lineup
One of the reasons "Heads of State" is so enjoyable is its fantastic cast. Idris Elba, John Cena, and Paddy Considine are all operating within their lanes and delivering top-notch performances. Priyanka Chopra Jonas, as a secret agent with ties to Sam, is another rock-solid addition. She brings a certain je ne sais quoi to the role that's hard to ignore.
Supporting Cast: A Who's Who of Character Actors
But what really steals the show is the supporting cast. People seem to feel all kinds of ways about Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and while I didn't watch her other Amazon joint, Citadel, I gotta admit I like her in this kind of role. She's got a certain charm that works well for this type of movie. And then there are the cameos: Sharlto Copley, Stephen Root, Sarah Niles, Carla Gugino, Richard Coyle, and even Jack Quaid - the man of the moment himself. His appearance is brief, but it's enough to leave you cackling and clapping your hands like a goddamn monkey.
The Director: Ilya Naishuller's Masterstroke
Most of the reason "Heads of State" stands out is thanks to its brilliant director, Ilya Naishuller. The man behind Nobody and the brilliant Hardcore Henry has the action chops to make this a thrilling and inventive ride, but he also grounds the insane action in the characters, rather than the actors. The joke is that Derringer and Clarke are capable-ish, but they're not the action heroes of the movie. Their bacon is saved by hilarious luck and the help of their agents time and time again.
The Humor: A Delicious Deflation
One of the highlights of "Heads of State" is its humor. The big bad of the movie is actually American isolationism, but don't worry if that sounds confusing - just watch the movie. And stay tuned for the mid-credit sequence because it's the perfect cherry on top of the whole thing.
Conclusion: Watch It Now
In short, "Heads of State" is a must-watch. With its fantastic cast, clever plot, and brilliant direction, it's everything an Amazon original should be: fun, mass-audience-appealing, and full of excitement. So what are you waiting for? Shut up and watch the movie.