Heads of State movie review: Priyanka Chopra stars in a chaotic yet entertaining ride with John Cena, Idris Elba

John Cena and Idris Elba; In Heads of State starring Priyanka Chopra

Heads of State blurs the line between deliberate chaos and accidental mess, and somehow, it works. The plot? A high-stakes global crisis throws the UK Prime Minister and US President into a covert operation involving terrorists, rogue intelligence, and a server that stores the world's most dangerous secrets. Toss in punchlines, diplomatic disasters, and the world's most indestructible car, and you've got a film that makes very little sense but keeps you watching anyway.

I want the President's car after watching this film

Let's talk about that car. Nicknamed The Beast, it's the U.S. President's official armored vehicle - designed to survive chemical attacks, bullets, bombs, and just about everything short of a meteor. There's a moment where Idris Elba is shown hanging off its side mid-action scene, and the thing doesn't even flinch. The man is built, and so is that machine. It's ridiculous, but somehow, it lands - just like the movie.

Did subtle entry get too subtle for Idris?

Idris Elba plays UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke, though the movie doesn't really introduce him. One minute he's not there, the next he's suddenly part of the central mission, with no context or setup. For someone who's supposed to represent an entire country, his entry feels like a shrug. It's not even a misfire - it's more like the gun wasn't loaded in the first place.

All eyes on Priyanka - except the script's

Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Noel Bisset, a covert operative who kicks off the story with one of the better action sequences. And while her character is barely written - no history, no emotional hook - she still manages to steal the screen. Her scenes are intense, physical, and honestly some of the most engaging moments in the film. The script gives her nothing, but she makes it work. There's also a hint of romantic tension between her and Elba's character, which, though underexplored, adds a surprisingly welcome layer to their dynamic. Their chemistry is subtle but real - and it's one of the rare moments where the film slows down enough to let emotion sneak in.

John Cena, we 'see you' - and we're impressed

John Cena, as President Will Derringer, is a former actor turned head of state. Sounds like a joke, but Cena makes it land. His frat-boy charm is balanced by an unexpected sincerity, and his ability to drop political one-liners with a deadpan face is genuinely sharp. Beneath the chaos, the character surprisingly has heart.
It's the dynamic between Elba and Cena that carries the film. Their banter, the dumb luck, the chaotic energy - it's all classic buddy comedy territory. From getting ambushed in a not-so-safe "safe house" to fighting off clueless teenagers at the Russian-Polish border, their scenes are pure chaos with just enough structure to make it work.

The plot was good but everything else stole the show

The whole film revolves around NATO's "safety server," a fictional but scarily plausible archive of global intelligence created by 25 countries. It's introduced like a core plot device but then shows up only when convenient. The movie keeps hopscotching between political commentary and total disinterest. One moment you're being served a heavy-handed line about war funding, and the next it's back to slapstick and one-liners. On the upside, this keeps the film politically uncontroversial. On the downside, it feels like they're tossing geopolitics in for flavor, then forgetting they added it. You can't just slap a meaningful line into the script every 40 minutes and expect it to hit. It needs follow-through.

That said, the pacing is tight. It's just under two hours, and aside from one slightly saggy patch in the middle, it keeps the momentum. The ending? Don't expect answers. It leans into confusion and closes with a scene that almost makes sense - almost - but mostly just leaves you blinking. Still, you're entertained.

I objected at first, but here's my final verdict

Heads of State doesn't try to be smart. It tries to be fun - and it nails that part. It's loud, messy, self-aware, and honestly more watchable than it has any right to be. At its heart, it's a buddy comedy between two countries that can't even agree on how to spell "colour," now trying to save the world together. Terrorist attacks, media fallout, Russian extremists, and suspiciously fast enemies-to-allies arcs - it's got everything. Whether you roll your eyes or laugh out loud, one thing's for sure: you won't be bored.