‘Heads of State’ : A Glossy Global Romp Where Priyanka Chopra Jonas Does Not Play Third Fiddle to the Male Leads
- Cena and Elba are both on-brand and in control. But it’s Priyanka Chopra Jonas who quietly carries the film’s credibility.
“Heads of State” kicks off in the thick of geopolitical chaos, with a distractingly cheesy opening sequence set at Spain’s Tomatina festival (fun fact: no real tomatoes were used on set). Two world leaders—John Cena’s egotistical, social media-obsessed American President and Idris Elba’s brooding, measured British Prime Minister—meet at a NATO summit for the first time. Their power posturing is short-lived, as a global crisis orchestrated by a ruthless supervillain quite literally catapults them into a proximity closer than a handshake.
Presumed dead, with their deputies installed as interim Heads of State, the two men are forced to reimagine their roles—and their relationship—on more human terms. On the run and quickly out of their depth, they must rely on instinct and each other. It’s an absurd, high-octane start that sets the tone for what follows: a James Bond–adjacent political comedy that’s action-packed, predictable, and never takes itself too seriously.
Ilya Naishuller (“Hardcore Henry,” “Nobody”) brings his signature kinetic style but tones down the grit and gore in favor of slick visuals and tightly choreographed sequences. The film globe-hops with breezy momentum—train-top chases, plane explosions, and harpooned helicopters included. From a midair fistfight on Air Force One to a rural skirmish and a sheep-trailer border escape, the action is fast-paced but never overwhelming. The comedy is understated, organic, and occasionally sharp, giving the film a much-needed levity.
“Heads of State” may not change the world, but for two hours, it imagines one where world leaders drop their egos, pick up a mission, and try to make things better.
John Cena plays President Will Derringer as a paradox. He is part action hero, part smooth talker. His arc, predictable as it is, hinges on learning to lead with charisma rather than force. Cena’s polished self-awareness makes it work; he’s especially entertaining when paired with Elba.
Elba’s Sam Blake is the more composed of the two—pragmatic, dry-humored, and just slightly too fond of wordplay in the way of bad puns. (“Everything harpoons for a reason”.) The recurring fish-and-chips joke is intended for male bonding but overstays its welcome. Regardless Elba sells even the flattest of lines. He’s magnetic without effort, and when the two men clash verbally or physically, the tension is amusingly sardonic rather than overblown.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas: Understated and Credible
The film’s quiet anchor is Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Agent Noel (M16). She isn’t written to steal scenes, and that’s precisely why she stands out. Her performance is understated, physically grounded, and refreshingly devoid of spectacle. Chopra’s Noel blends in deliberately, from her pale tomato-colored jacket at Tomatina to the practical, unflashy wardrobe throughout. No elaborate hair styling, no melodramatic monologues. Just calm control and sharp execution.
She moves through both diplomatic tension and fight choreography with precision. Whether she’s confronting the sniper who shot her in the opening scene or negotiating peace between two egos, Chopra is entirely believable. Compared to the stylized roles she’s taken on in Don 2 or the emotionally high-strung Alex Parrish in Quantico, this performance feels real, lived-in, and finely tuned to the film’s tone. She brings balance without trying to command attention.
Comedy with a Light Touch
The humor works more often than not, especially when it leans into the absurdity of high-stakes diplomacy as an action spectacle. Air Force One hijinks, tourist disguises, and a sheep-filled getaway make for entertaining set pieces without derailing the narrative. Importantly, the comedy doesn’t obscure the message about trust, cooperation, and what leadership might look like in a better world.
“Heads of State” is a slick, escapist fantasy that plays like a Bollywood-meets-Hollywood political farce with punchlines, punch-outs, and perfectly timed explosions. It doesn’t aim to surprise, but it succeeds in delivering a watchable, well-paced story with enough chemistry and humor to hold your attention.
Cena and Elba are both on-brand and in control. But it’s Priyanka Chopra Jonas who quietly carries the film’s credibility. She doesn’t try to outshine the stars. She doesn’t need to. In a movie built on spectacle, Chopra gives us something rarer: a performance that’s grounded, believable, and unbothered by theatrics.
“Heads of State” may not change the world, but for two hours, it imagines one where world leaders drop their egos, pick up a mission, and try to make things better and thwart a threat to the globe. The film feels like a fantasy worth watching. It is streaming on Prime Video.
With one foot in Huntsville, Alabama, the other in her birth home, India, and a heart steeped in humanity, Monita Soni writes as a contemplative practice. She has published hundreds of poems, movie reviews, book critiques, and essays, and contributed to combined literary works. Her two books are My Light Reflections and Flow Through My Heart. You can hear her commentaries on Sundial Writers Corner, WLRH 89.3 FM.