'Heads of State' Review: Priyanka, John & Idris make international chaos look insane fun

Heads of State

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video: 2nd July onwards

Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, John Cena, Idris Elba, Jack Quaid, Carla Gugino, Paddy Considine & more

Directed by: Ilya Naishuller

Rating - ***1/2 (3.5/5)

The first few minutes of Heads of State play out like your typical covert-ops thriller. You know the drill. A deadly MI6 agent leading a high-stakes mission. A shadowy mafia boss who must be neutralized. Tense whispers in communication channels. Gloved hands on sniper rifles. You sit back, smugly assured that you’ve seen this kind of setup before. But before you can blink, the rug is yanked, the rules are rewritten, and the entire covert team is obliterated. Just like that.

Leading the ill-fated team is Noel Bissett, a senior MI6 officer played by Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Her screen time in the opener is brief but explosive, literally and otherwise. And then she's presumed dead. Of course, if you've seen even two spy thrillers in your life, you know that being presumed dead is the quickest way to know someone’s definitely alive. But we’ll get to that.

Buddy Comedy in a Power Suit

With Noel out of the picture, the film pivots sharply. Suddenly, you're not watching trained agents anymore. You’re watching world leaders fumble their way through international crises. Enter Prime Minister Sam Clarke, played with deadpan brilliance by Idris Elba, and President Will Derringer, played with muscle-bound charm by John Cena. Their task is deceptively simple: keep the fragile NOTA alliance alive and prevent a diplomatic disaster. Their actual experience in espionage? Zero.

This is where the film switches genres without warning or apology. It becomes an absurd, over-the-top buddy action comedy, starring two of the most powerful men on the planet who also happen to be the least qualified to handle the chaos ahead. The juxtaposition is exactly what makes it fun.

Buddy Banter and Presidential Punchlines

At the heart of the madness is the undeniable chemistry between Elba and Cena. They play off each other like two old friends forced to share a tent on a camping trip neither of them wanted to go on. Their comedic rhythm is sharp but never cloying. Elba, with his seasoned restraint, reacts to the chaos around him with stoic disbelief, while Cena barrels through like a golden retriever in a fine china store.

The brilliance lies in how evenly matched they are. These are not the usual cop-duo dynamics of “genius and goofball.” Both are leaders, both have egos, and both are way out of their comfort zones. What makes them different is not their stature but their approach to power. Sam Clarke is all caution and diplomacy. Will Derringer is all impulse and bravado. Together, they make decisions that range from mildly effective to wildly idiotic, and it is hilarious to watch.

The Rock-Sized Elephant in the Room

Now, let’s talk about the obvious-not-obvious meta-reference in the room. Yes, we’re talking about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. For years, there has been talk of him running for the presidency of the United States. That nugget of pop culture has clearly found its way into this film's DNA.

John Cena’s character, Will Derringer, is a retired action star who now serves as the Commander-in-Chief. There is no on-the-nose reference to The Rock. No eyebrow lifts. No Samoan catchphrases. But the resemblance is loud enough without being cringeworthy. It’s a clever cultural wink. Cena plays the role with full awareness, infusing his performance with just the right level of earnest delusion. He wants to be taken seriously but cannot resist slipping into action-hero theatrics. He is simultaneously presidential and completely unfit, which is perhaps what makes the satire so bitingly accurate.

Enter Priyanka, Agent of Chaos

When Priyanka Chopra Jonas re-enters the picture, she does it with swagger and just the right amount of theatrical timing. Noel Bissett is very much alive, and this time she’s bringing backup.

While her role could have easily been a copy-paste from Citadel, Chopra brings a different flavor here. She is sharper, funnier, and clearly having a lot more fun. Her comic timing is criminally underrated, and when thrown into scenes with Elba and Cena, she doesn’t just keep up — she elevates the party. Noel has history with Sam Clarke, and the emotional undertones of their connection are surprisingly genuine. It never feels like a forced subplot. It lands with sincerity, offering the rare moment of calm in an otherwise frenetic film.

Shoddy CGI, Brilliant Chaos

Now, let’s be honest. Heads of State is not winning any awards for technical finesse. There are a few scenes, particularly ones involving Priyanka’s stunt double, where the CGI face-swap is distractingly poor. One moment you’re watching a slick action sequence, the next you're wondering if Adobe After Effects was outsourced to a college intern.

But in a film that never once claims to be grounded in realism, these missteps feel less like deal-breakers and more like charming flaws. Logic is routinely sacrificed for spectacle, and that’s okay. If you’re pausing to dissect how a flaming motorbike made it across three helicopters and into a mid-air boardroom, you’re watching the wrong movie.

Jack Quaid Is Having a Moment

Among the supporting cast, Jack Quaid deserves a special mention. He seems to be popping up everywhere lately, and with good reason. In Heads of State, he gets his own standalone sequence that veers between slapstick, satire, and surprisingly slick action. Quaid’s comic instincts are razor-sharp, and his natural awkwardness makes him instantly relatable. He’s the guy who shouldn’t be in the room but ends up stealing the scene.

His presence is also a reminder that this film knows how to use its ensemble. Even when Elba and Cena are off-screen, the energy never dips. Every side character, from intelligence agents to rogue henchmen, seems to be in on the joke.

Streaming-Sized Spectacle

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Heads of State is its scale. This is a film designed for Amazon Prime Video, but it rarely feels like a compromise. From high-speed chases in Eastern Europe to glitzy black-tie summits gone terribly wrong, the production spares no expense in making everything look as big as possible.

There’s something comforting about watching a film of this scale from your couch. It’s cinematic without demanding your full undivided attention. You can watch it with popcorn or while folding laundry. You can laugh at the absurdity or lean in for the occasional twist. It’s the kind of film that respects your time, never overstays its welcome, and knows exactly what it wants to be.

Global Mayhem, Local Fun

In a genre drowning in clichés, Heads of State manages to float by being just self-aware enough. It knows it’s ridiculous, but never smug about it. It uses familiar tropes but applies them with a knowing smile. It leans into its absurdities without turning into a parody. And most importantly, it remembers to have fun.

Sure, the plot is more of a suggestion than a structure. The villain is almost secondary. And the resolution is as predictable as the setup. But none of that really matters when the journey is this entertaining.

With a terrific trio at its center, sharp comedic writing, a surprising amount of heart, and set pieces that could belong on a blockbuster marquee, Heads of State makes a strong case for why OTT action comedies might just be the future of this genre. It is popcorn entertainment at its most chaotic, charming best.

Are you planning to watch the film as it begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video 2nd July 2025 onwards? Leave in your comments below.