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Movie Review
Head of State
By Lee Tistaert Published March 30, 2003
US Release: March 28, 2003
Starring: Chris Rock , Bernie Mac
PG-13
Running Time: 95 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $37,788,000
Starring: Chris Rock , Bernie Mac
PG-13
Running Time: 95 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $37,788,000
B-
38 of 132
Purely stupid fun and harmless
Coming from someone who thought Down to Earth was horribly mediocre (C-) and Bad Company just all right (C/C+), Head of State comes as somewhat of a delightful surprise.
The movie is not flat out hilarious even though there are a few moments where I was having a hard time calming down, but maintains an easily endurable charm. This is the type of stupid fun flick that is relatively nice to be in the presence of, but doesn?t really stand as anything greatly rewarding. It?s a loosely constructed comedy that had me battling between a C+ and a B- rating throughout its duration, as it definitely had a light enjoyable spark to it but laughs weren?t frequent. However, one specific gag nearing the end withdrew a light tear from my eye due to the surprise of crossing the MPAA boundary in humor, thus convincing me that more of an average rating may just be too harsh.
Head of State doesn?t come without flaws, but sarcastically speaking, what a shocker. What it does hand over more so comes in spurts, including the opening, which suggests a really dumb funny time but doesn?t follow through with every scene carrying a great ball of wax in humor. The movie did make me laugh, but only on an occasional basis; however, there are a few jokes here that are so solidly presented that they can allow those inconsistencies to slide, if even just a bit. It?s a brand of stupid comedy where all the flaws and illogical reasoning is openly present, but it somehow manages to make you disregard what didn?t work and focus on what in fact gelled (to a certain extent, of course). But where the movie isn?t laugh-out-loud funny, Rock has made certain to maintain viewer attention somewhat constant, which is where the flick rebounds with some heart.
The film stars Chris Rock as a Washington D.C. wannabe politician (Mays Gilliam) who through his act of saving an old lady and her cat from a building about to explode from fire, convinces a few real politicians he may be the ideal person for their temporary assignment. The President of the United States has just been involved in a plane crash, forcing the position to be in the need of filling real quick as the election is near. Now, you may be thinking, "Boy, is that retarded." But ask yourself this: did you like Dave? Head of State is not as good and isn?t as refined in all its elements, but if you were able to believe that presidential flick you shouldn?t have too much of a beef here.
Head of State then leads Mays into the commanding position, standing as the first potential black president. But Gilliam needs some assistance in the matter, which comes from his bail bondsman brother, Mitch, played by Bernie Mac. Mitch passes on the wisdom to Mays that he should speak his mind on the podium and not just the formulaic words he?s expected to spread on. While such could really break out into a humor feast if the script allowed, or even intelligent matters being expressed, Rock doesn?t go to the extreme with these components. But nevertheless, he hands in some entertaining moments that even if some go shallow in depth, you still get reminded that there are other positive ends of the story that produced giggles or even pure laugh-out-loud spots.
The one factor that doesn?t get played to its potential is the appearance of Bernie Mac. The film?s trailer suggests a prominent comedic presence by the actor, but when all is said and done it really feels like more of a big cameo than anything else. Mac had me grinning sometimes, but mostly due to the ongoing enthusiasm he inserts into the role and not so much due to the material itself. The appearance reminds us how much someone?s charisma can save a character, as while Mac may not be drop-dead funny it?s a familiar face and we can tell he?s having a ball with it.
What could?ve been great for Rock (who directed, co-produced, and co-wrote the film) would?ve been to plan a pure adlib scene where Mac and a powerful real life figure go back and forth in argument for several minutes (with Mac in more of a clueless, say-whatever mode). There is such a scene but just in a talk-show setting, but it lasts for so little time that there are hints that such a gag could produce some real fun laughs if given a hearty amount of screen time and focus. Such an idea may come too closely in distance to the comedic style of Fred Willard in Best in Show, where Willard plays stupid better than no other in improvising, but such a turn in events for Mac here would?ve strongly cast my vote if executed properly.
Head of State is deadly predictable and formulaic, but it?s not without its supply of multiple giggles and some real nice shock humor. It?s a film that is so contrived in reasoning and plot, but what can I say, I enjoyed myself (to a light level). I walked in with the notion that it could either be funny or just downright stupid, as being not exactly blown away by the preview, it was somewhat of a wildcard selection in potential. The night I saw this, a friend was interested in seeing Old School, which would?ve made that my third viewing. While loving that college romp, Head of State was a pleasant diversion and I?m glad for having taken this risk instead, as it?s purely stupid fun and harmless. I favor Chris Rock?s stand-up very highly, and though this film may lack the restricted humor and creativity that allows some of his substance there to really work beyond belief, this really isn?t bad.
So to my hesitant readers who won?t touch a thing of Rock?s material unless it?s under the confinements of R-rated one-liners, here?s a PG-13 film that while doesn?t pour laughs out of you (on the rate of Old School or Bringing Down the House), it doesn?t leave you sighing as the story plays out a la Earth and Company. While such may not come as an overly impressive note to spread on, it?s light moviegoing fare that truly could be much worse; there?s some good, there?s some not so good, but in the end it?s reasonably entertaining. It?s a comedy that aims and succeeds in getting some laughs - what?s the shame in that?
The movie is not flat out hilarious even though there are a few moments where I was having a hard time calming down, but maintains an easily endurable charm. This is the type of stupid fun flick that is relatively nice to be in the presence of, but doesn?t really stand as anything greatly rewarding. It?s a loosely constructed comedy that had me battling between a C+ and a B- rating throughout its duration, as it definitely had a light enjoyable spark to it but laughs weren?t frequent. However, one specific gag nearing the end withdrew a light tear from my eye due to the surprise of crossing the MPAA boundary in humor, thus convincing me that more of an average rating may just be too harsh.
Head of State doesn?t come without flaws, but sarcastically speaking, what a shocker. What it does hand over more so comes in spurts, including the opening, which suggests a really dumb funny time but doesn?t follow through with every scene carrying a great ball of wax in humor. The movie did make me laugh, but only on an occasional basis; however, there are a few jokes here that are so solidly presented that they can allow those inconsistencies to slide, if even just a bit. It?s a brand of stupid comedy where all the flaws and illogical reasoning is openly present, but it somehow manages to make you disregard what didn?t work and focus on what in fact gelled (to a certain extent, of course). But where the movie isn?t laugh-out-loud funny, Rock has made certain to maintain viewer attention somewhat constant, which is where the flick rebounds with some heart.
The film stars Chris Rock as a Washington D.C. wannabe politician (Mays Gilliam) who through his act of saving an old lady and her cat from a building about to explode from fire, convinces a few real politicians he may be the ideal person for their temporary assignment. The President of the United States has just been involved in a plane crash, forcing the position to be in the need of filling real quick as the election is near. Now, you may be thinking, "Boy, is that retarded." But ask yourself this: did you like Dave? Head of State is not as good and isn?t as refined in all its elements, but if you were able to believe that presidential flick you shouldn?t have too much of a beef here.
Head of State then leads Mays into the commanding position, standing as the first potential black president. But Gilliam needs some assistance in the matter, which comes from his bail bondsman brother, Mitch, played by Bernie Mac. Mitch passes on the wisdom to Mays that he should speak his mind on the podium and not just the formulaic words he?s expected to spread on. While such could really break out into a humor feast if the script allowed, or even intelligent matters being expressed, Rock doesn?t go to the extreme with these components. But nevertheless, he hands in some entertaining moments that even if some go shallow in depth, you still get reminded that there are other positive ends of the story that produced giggles or even pure laugh-out-loud spots.
The one factor that doesn?t get played to its potential is the appearance of Bernie Mac. The film?s trailer suggests a prominent comedic presence by the actor, but when all is said and done it really feels like more of a big cameo than anything else. Mac had me grinning sometimes, but mostly due to the ongoing enthusiasm he inserts into the role and not so much due to the material itself. The appearance reminds us how much someone?s charisma can save a character, as while Mac may not be drop-dead funny it?s a familiar face and we can tell he?s having a ball with it.
What could?ve been great for Rock (who directed, co-produced, and co-wrote the film) would?ve been to plan a pure adlib scene where Mac and a powerful real life figure go back and forth in argument for several minutes (with Mac in more of a clueless, say-whatever mode). There is such a scene but just in a talk-show setting, but it lasts for so little time that there are hints that such a gag could produce some real fun laughs if given a hearty amount of screen time and focus. Such an idea may come too closely in distance to the comedic style of Fred Willard in Best in Show, where Willard plays stupid better than no other in improvising, but such a turn in events for Mac here would?ve strongly cast my vote if executed properly.
Head of State is deadly predictable and formulaic, but it?s not without its supply of multiple giggles and some real nice shock humor. It?s a film that is so contrived in reasoning and plot, but what can I say, I enjoyed myself (to a light level). I walked in with the notion that it could either be funny or just downright stupid, as being not exactly blown away by the preview, it was somewhat of a wildcard selection in potential. The night I saw this, a friend was interested in seeing Old School, which would?ve made that my third viewing. While loving that college romp, Head of State was a pleasant diversion and I?m glad for having taken this risk instead, as it?s purely stupid fun and harmless. I favor Chris Rock?s stand-up very highly, and though this film may lack the restricted humor and creativity that allows some of his substance there to really work beyond belief, this really isn?t bad.
So to my hesitant readers who won?t touch a thing of Rock?s material unless it?s under the confinements of R-rated one-liners, here?s a PG-13 film that while doesn?t pour laughs out of you (on the rate of Old School or Bringing Down the House), it doesn?t leave you sighing as the story plays out a la Earth and Company. While such may not come as an overly impressive note to spread on, it?s light moviegoing fare that truly could be much worse; there?s some good, there?s some not so good, but in the end it?s reasonably entertaining. It?s a comedy that aims and succeeds in getting some laughs - what?s the shame in that?
Lee's Grade: B-
Ranked #38 of 132 between Confidence (#37) and American Wedding (#39) for 2003 movies.
Ranked #38 of 132 between Confidence (#37) and American Wedding (#39) for 2003 movies.
Lee's Overall Grading: 3025 graded movies
| A | 0.4% | |
| B | 30.0% | |
| C | 61.7% | |
| D | 8.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
