Head of State (2003) User Reviews

Written, directed and starring the Rock....Chris Rock

[Sinnerman · 8/10 · 26 January 2005]

In this film, the Vice President, who's the front-runner candidate for office in a coming election, often dispenses with below campaign sound bite at whatever opportunity he gets:

"I have been the Vice President for 8 years. I am a war veteran. And I'm the cousin of Sharon Stone. God bless America...and no place else."

With lines like these, what's not to like about Head of State?

Here's the premise of the film. Both the the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate of a "losing" party died when their planes crashed into each other (don't ask). With the election just weeks away, the party decided to intentionally look for a "loser" replacement candidate; one who will lose at a pegged percentage (not too much, not too little), and yet is capable of winning some "leverage" points for the next round of election. And they found Chris Rock. Enough said.

Pardon the cliché, but Head of State has to be seen to be believed. Hell, just its opening credits alone are LOL already. If you asked me, I would think this flick's mixed bag of humour (from no-holds barred low brow to smart insightful attacks on American electoral politics) worked only because it has been delivered the only way someone as comic-attuned as Chris Rock knew how. The business of making people laugh is a tough one. And IMO, Chris Rock is one of the best in the business.

Can you imagine a fluffier, more convoluted Bulworth crossed with the crude but often logical sensibilities of South Park - The movie? If yes, proceed to imagine lines hurled at you that's as zingy as a Kevin Smith vehicle (both the good and the really bad ones) and blatant slapstick's as throwaway LOL as those Airplane/ Naked Gun movies? Ladies and germs, if you can imagine all that, congrats! Because that is Head of State for you, nutshell cracked wide open. But whether you will swallow the nuts or not (I always chew first, then swallow), will depend largely on your threshold and expectation already.

We need not reminders that we all live in ludicrous times now, do we? So why not accord some of that time laughing at it all, relishing in the enjoyment of a film as ludicrously conceived as this one? Personally, I look upon Head of State as a brilliant political comedy. Its charm actually lies in its greater interest in comedy than politics. I am delighted to see this film juggle sly political wish fulfilment with the conscious play-it-up for laughs. Sometimes, strictly for laughs. So yes, I am won over and willingly lap this flick up.

Make no mistake, Head of State is a hit and miss movie. But its hits far exceed its misses. In fact, its hit rate is almost comparable to (and arguably higher than) the raunch-assisted Scary Movie. Its (sporadic) intelligence however, far surpasses the entire Waymon Bros output combined.

Hmm....its plain to see that the manic sinnerman love this movie. I have not been this entertained in very long time. Hence I shall willingly dispense you all this flick recommendation. If one pop this title into a player at any random night, I do think it will provide willing folks with an antidote release from the blues of a hellish school/work day prior. So people, go hunt for the Head of State now (pun unintended).

My word is out. God bless America....and no place else!

Loved this movie Head of State when I was younger, still do!

[UniqueParticle · 8/10 · 26 March 2021]

I can't believe I never knew Chris Rock wrote, directed and starred in this movie. When I watched years ago I wasn't as huge of a movie buff like I am nowadays although I was 11 when this released. Might not be appreciated much but I love it, quite enjoyable political comedy that is refreshing enlightenment!

The Campaign

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 24 July 2018]

A film that feels remarkably aged and redundant after the 2008 US Presidential elections with the election of Barack Obama.

Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) is a conscientious and hard working Alderman in Washington DC. After saving a woman and her cat from a building that is about to explode. Mays is plucked from obscurity to be the replacement presidential candidate when the previous dies in a plane crash.

Of course he has been selected so he can put up a plucky fight and lose, so their can be a serious candidate four years later. His rival is the hot favourite to win the election. He is the current vice president, a war hero and a cousin to Sharon Stone.

The film is mildly amusing, silly but falls way off base as a political satire. The script feels half finished and half baked. At times you feel that you are watching a series of sketches than a movie.

Toothless

[bix171 · 5/10 · 31 March 2003]

The real, angry Chris Rock doesn't put in an appearance until the final moments of this political satire (directed and co-written by Rock) but it's not enough to rescue what has come before. Rock's fantasy of being the first African-American to achieve the White House (although he's initially set up to fail by spin doctors Dylan Baker and a surprisingly funny Lynn Whitfield) is somewhat toothless by Rock's own standards. The problem is his altered perception of himself as a film star (as opposed to the established HBO black equivalent of Dennis Miller): he phonily positions himself from the onset as cuddly, concerned for the constituents of the ward he's an alderman for and reasonably ignorant of national issues; he's finally allowed to become self-aware only when his older brother (the always welcome Bernie Mac) intercedes. You keep waiting for Rock to change but when he does, it's first into a playa that comes up with glib quips in response to standard questions. (With barely a mention of foreign policy, they seem a bit stale). Only in the final debate against his opponent (Nick Searcy) does he let loose with some honesty and only then do the jokes carry some weight. Rock, making his directorial debut, opts for the equivalent of a made-for-TV movie with a flat look, very mild gags (there are not nearly enough white fright jokes but there is a fundraiser that turns into a dance party with elderly WASPs doing the electric slide, and opening credits that state Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, George Bush and Hillary Clinton, among others, `are not in this movie') and very little interest in being taken seriously. Warren Beatty covered this turf far more handily in `Bulworth'. With Tamala Jones as his love interest, Robin Givens (cleverly cast as a gold digger) and, unfortunately, only a couple of bits from Tracy Morgan.

Could be better.

[kyle_is_awesome · 6/10 · 21 August 2003]

I thought it was really funny but they should have taken out some really stupid parts. Like in the begginning of the movie Chris Rock girlfriend was terribly annoying. Some of the dialouge Chris Rock said was supposed to be funny but it wasn't. Some of the programs the goverment ran were really stupid and they just put it in there to make it PG-13. Ex: Prostitutes. Anyway... Bad company was a lot better. Rent that instead.

Chris Rock could -- and *should* -- do much better

[argv · 30 July 2003]

Chris Rock has made an interesting name for himself. He's a black comedian who's been in almost 60 feature films; a writer and co-writer for movies and TV shows like Saturday Night Live; and is a man with strong political opinions. So, with all that talent and experience, you'd think that if he were to write and produce a political satire, it'd be a mix of biting comedy with a message.

If only that were the case with `Head of State.' Instead of biting satire poking fun at the political system, there's a collection of gag jokes that, in themselves are funny, but neither politically pertinent or satirical in any way. What's more the romantic-comedy subplot is way too prominent, elbowing out the main theme of the film.

Rock plays Mays Gilliam, a Washington, D.C. alderman, who's a man of the people. He not only does good things in his neighborhood, but even the drug dealers like him. When the existing democratic presidential candidates unexpectedly die, Gilliam finds himself selected by the party to replace them, all in the name of a politically ambitious underling who sets up Rock to lose in hopes of securing the nomination in the next election. Through a series of gags and mishaps, Gilliam not only gets elected, but gets the girl too.

The film certainly has the gags, many of which are genuinely funny. In fact, if it were all gags, a la `Airplane' and `The Naked Gun', then Rock's film would have been surprisingly refreshing. But, the humor was diluted by attempts at a serious side – both on the political front and the romantic front – and the script fails to know when one ends and the other begins. What's more, the serous or romantic sides to the film, gags notwithstanding, were just plain silly.

It's not that the formula doesn't work. It's been done many times before, such as `Dave', starring Kevin Klein, and Warren Beatty's `Bulworth'. In each case, the `candidate' was unlikely and over the edge, but their straight talk and unconventional approach to politics appealed to the people and resonated with movie audiences. In essence, using this theme as the platform for satirical poignancy was very effective (from an entertainment perspective, not necessarily as a valid social commentary). In the end, the reason these films worked is because it was clear where the gags end and the seriousness begins.

On a separate note with respect to today's current events, I couldn't help but notice that it's because of reality that this movie is actually more disturbing than it should be. In fact, it harkens back to the good old days of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Back then, people didn't take politics or world events seriously at all, as evidenced by the fact that we had actual, serious attempts at the presidency from people such as Donald Trump, Ross Perot, and yes, even Warren Beatty. You'd never see those names in mainstream press in today's environment. Perhaps `Head of State' should have been released during a time when society's perception of politics and the presidency wasn't so important. But today, it's just plain eerie and disturbing.

Chris Rock was not annoying

[MLDinTN · 19 April 2004]

Generally, I find Rock very annoying in his films, but this one was different. He didn't do a lot of the loud mouth comments. The whole idea of this was silly, but it's a comedy. An alderman from a ghetto in DC is picked by a party to run for president when the other candidate dies. They pick someone who will lose because one of the other guys plans to run for president in 4 years. So of course, Mays decides to do his own thing and tell the people they should have more for their hard work and so on. He plays rap music at black tie parties, and decides to wear gangsta clothes. He rallies people around him and starts gaining approval from the masses. Along the way, he constantly hits on this gas station clerk. But, all of this is OK, but not really funny. The funny part of the whole movie is whenever Robin Givens was on screen. She plays a girl who dumps Mays in the beginning, but once she learns he's running for president, she follows him and acts all sweet and continues to plan their wedding. That part was hillarious.

FINAL VERDICT: Better than most Rock's other movies. It's worth watching if you are looking for a comedy.

Funny (and Visionary) Silliness

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 12 July 2016]

One candidate for the presidency dies in an accident a couple of weeks before the election. Meanwhile the alderman Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) becomes a hero when he rescues a woman and her cat from an old house that would blow up. However his fiancée Kim (Robin Givens) does not pay his bills and dumps him, and Gilliam loses everything including his fancy car. When Senator Bill Arnot (James Rebhorn) sees the news on television, he plots a scheme with the party advisors Martin Geller (Dylan Baker) and Debra Lassiter (Lynn Whitfield) to invite Mays to be the party nominee and lose the election for the other candidate, Vice- President Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy). Four years later, he would be the candidate and would have the chance of winning the election. Mays has a terrible beginning of campaign but when his older brother Mitch Gilliam (Bernie Mac) meets him in Chicago, he advises Mays to be himself. Will he have the chance to be the first African American President of the USA?

"Head of State" is a silly film that every now and then makes laugh. The uneven plot has memorable scenes, like the party with the guests dancing or when Mays tells that God should protect the whole world; but there are stupid scene, most of them with Mitch Gilliam in interviews. But in general, this film is satisfactory and entertains. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Um Pobretão na Casa Branca" ("A Pauper in the White House")

recycled formula

[strus2001 · 17 April 2003]

Back in the late 70's and through the early 80's, Richard Pryor made a string of formulaic type movies, the formula being a street-wise black man is unexpectedly placed in a position of great responsibility or privilege for which he is totally unprepared: (Silver Streak, Brewster's Millions, Critical Condition, Bustin Loose). Inevitably, the hero not only succeeds in his newfound role, but excels, all thanks to his streetwise background, which allowed him to confound the numerous white people in these movies who were either thick-headed or cruel mercenaries. This formula, not surprisingly, ran out of gas before Pryor's health started to go downhill, just like the Elvis movie formula did. It was all very unfortunate, because it repackaged Pryor, a true hardcore radical comedian into a middle of the road movie star palatable to a broad based audience. He never reclaimed what he had lost, and neither did Elvis. "Head of State" recycles the same Richard Pryor formula, only updating it to a hip-hop fed generation. Chris Rock plays the Richard Pryor -type character, a Washington DC alderman who catches the attention of Democratic party headquarters as an innovative replacement candidate for the nominee who dies in a plane crash only weeks before the general election. The overall effect is the same watered-down comedy that the RP movies left me with. The backroom cunning and maneuvering is all supposed to look very devious, and Chris Rock turns it all to his advantage, outsmarting the professional politicians at every turn.

The attempted humor in this movie left me cold and annoyed. There were joking references to the assassination of Malcolm X and JonBenet Ramsey that I guess were supposed to make me laugh. They didn't, and nothing, absolutely nothing, in this movie did. The slapping, punching, and assault & battery incidents are continuous and an assault on the senses. Someone has been watching a lot of 3 Stooges. Robin Givens plays a disgruntled ex-girlfriend of the candidate who is repeatedly victimized. In light of her experiences with Mike Tyson, this seems to hit a new low in bad taste. Rock speechifies in his presidential debate scene on the benefits of knocking children in the head when they misbehave, and receives a standing ovation. Not funny.

The problem with a watered-down movie is that it always hedges its bets, flip-flopping between earthy comedy and the serious tones. This movie, which actually has an interesting premise, would have been a lot better if it had gone way over the top, and not pandered to any sense of reality or decorum, like say for example, "Animal House." Put Chris Tucker or Ice-T in the candidate role, with no attempt to be loved by the audience. Bring the 'hood to the White House, and rename it the Black House. Load it with sex, drugs, rock & roll, and FUN!

I couldn't help but feel cynical about the Hollywood establishment's political vendetta associated with this movie. Chris Rock's opponent has an identifiable Texas twang, is personally venemous and slow-witted. Sound familiar? This same establishment will also back liberal governors and senators with expensive haircuts, but has never seriously gotten behind a black presidential candidate. I guess if you produce a movie about it instead of making it happen, that excuses you.

The Cradle Will "Rock".

[tfrizzell · 29 April 2003]

An angry commentary on American politics and the current state of the Republican Party today is made quite clear in "Head of State". Chris Rock stars as a relatively normal man who is having a string of bad luck in one of the roughest areas of Washington, D.C. A heroic rescue of one of his elderly friends leads to Rock getting in the spotlight. Meanwhile the Democratic presidential nominee for 2004 has tragically died in a plane crash. The party feels they have no chance in the election so they come up with an idea to sway minority voters so the Democrats (namely candidate James Rebhorn) can re-claim the presidency in 2008. Get the picture? Dylan Baker and Lynn Whitfield are the two campaign managers assigned to Rock's cause, but soon Rock starts running his own show. Throughout, the Republican nominee (goof-ball Nick Searcy, a character that is an unsympathetic carbon-copy of President George W. Bush) continues to lead the polls mainly because he has been vice president for eight years, is a war hero and is also Sharon Stone's cousin. However, Rock's antics quickly make him the darkest of dark horses in a tight race. Along for the ride also is love interest Tamala Jones, ex-girlfriend Robin Givens (in a psychotic role), personal assistant Stephanie March and the priceless Bernie Mac (in a part that is way too limited). Mac eventually becomes the running mate for Rock. The fact that he is Rock's older brother makes him the most trust-worthy person in a twisted circle. "Head of State" has shades of Warren Beatty's "Bulworth" all over it. Rock, however would rather shy away with sometimes silly comedy than tackling the issues like the aforementioned film did. The Republican Party has already boycotted this film due to the way they are portrayed and that fact has made the production go into a minor financial tail-spin at the box office (overall "Head of State" has been a disappointment economically speaking). Politics aside, the film ultimately fails due to Rock's shortcomings as a director and screenwriter. He definitely has some things to say, but the way he conveys his thoughts are such a jumble on the big screen that the film almost becomes tedious. Rock has a likeable cast and yet he tries to carry the show by himself. This is not a very good thing in the end. Overall I do respect Rock's views and I do think he made a movie that pushes the envelope on some issues in the U.S. today, but in the end "Head of State" is just another potentially good production that never does rise to expectations. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Really funny

[michael94523 · 8/10 · 31 March 2003]

i am extremely liberal and went to this movie looking for some "republican/conservative" bashing. I got it.

A couple of my friends are slightly conservative and were afraid to see this movie. They laughed louder and harder than I did.

This is a good movie overall, with a mass-appeal.

Kudos to Chris Rock.

not quite sharp enough

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 11 December 2016]

Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) is running for Alderman in Washington, D.C. He's the fixer for the local community and becomes a minor hero on local TV. His girlfriend Kim dumps him for not pushing ahead of others and getting the money. When the Presidential candidate dies, the party picks him to take over. Everybody expects him to lose against sitting VP Brian Lewis especially Senator Bill Arnot who wants to run in the next election. In the meanwhile, he can excite the minority base and lose badly.

As a satire, it is not sharp enough to be biting. Much of it boils down to Chris Rock not being a good director. Some of the jabs do hit the mark but far too often, he's flailing away. Chris has his charms which is able to drive the campaign bus but it's not quite enough to make this work.

Mr. Rock has guts

[sillylizard · 8/10 · 12 March 2005]

Intelligent. Chris Rock has balls and he mixes old-school comedy (think SNL in the 80s) and current American politics. ie. both the republican and democrats are corrupt and greedy, with no one but themselves at interest when it comes to "The United States of America." But, as Mr. Rock points out in the commentary, this film is a comedy, and not intended to be a political commentary.

So why then did so few people think it was funny? Perhaps b/c they can't see the humour in their own country...how hysterical that the most God-blessed, powerful, and wealthy country in the world can be falling apart so badly. And that the government in election years must pretend to care about its citizens, when obviously they only care about the people who are handing them cheques.

Delightfully irreverent, Chris Rock steps up to the plate.

And the new president is...

[Quinoa1984 · 8 May 2003]

In his latest comedy and directorial debut, Head of State, Chris Rock plays Mays Gilliam, an alderman with nothing going his way, who is pulled out of obscurity after a television appearance to run for the presidential office. Gilliam's campaign tactics are unconventional, as he starts to speak his mind; while addressing a campaign audience he says, "I asked a kid the other day, what's four plus four, and he said, forty-four. Now let me hear y'all say, that ain't right!" When he discovers that he was nominated because certain individuals knew he would loose, he kicks his campaign into a higher gear, and asks his brother Mitch (a dead-pan Bernie Mac) to be his running mate.

Unfortunately, despite a clever story, Rock's film performance, like others, fail to live up to his work as a stand-up comic or as a performer on SNL. He can be a great actor (New Jack City, Dogma, Nurse Betty), but he over-tries to get laughs from his mannerisms over his dialogue. Many others without him are hit and miss, for instance a montage of Mac's talk-show interviews ("NATO, naw, I never met the man, and I don't talk about people behind their backs."), but when Mays decided to guest DJ for a group of old white people early on in the film the scene fails to be anything but tiresome. Rock needs to be more selective when choosing his next film, or if he decides to write/produce or even direct again to work a little longer. Perhaps he should do a full length feature of skits like the ones from his TV show. Grade: C

Moderately entertaining but lacks real bite

[long-ford · 27 February 2009]

Chris Rock stars in a black comedy (no pun intended) about a black man running for the US presidency. There are a lot of jokes and some are rather funny. Most of the barbs in 'Head of State' are directed towards Republicans. Democrats get off easy as they are portrayed only as spineless wimps! The constraints of the PG-13 rating however prevent Rock from going all out and as a result, the film lacks bite. The film also lacks real political intelligence and skims superficially over the political campaigns. It's still perfectly watchable though with both Rock and Bernie Mac doing a good job.

Overall 6/10

Genial and relatively warm-hearted. Impressive director's debut effort!

[bopdog · 8/10 · 29 March 2003]

I had planned to avoid "Head of State" because Chris Rock's sanctimonious "holier than thou" rants have become mighty tiresome. I read some reviews, though, that claimed the movie was funnier and more kind hearted than that; and easier to watch than many people expected. I went, and to my pleasant surprise it was indeed fairly funny. Rock's bitter and self-serving diatribe was also absent. I wouldn't call it a "feel good" movie, but it was basically genial and relatively high minded. I had fun!

There are numerous plot faults and other details that could be criticized--- but they are all skippable in the name of entertainment. And to think that this was Rock's debut as a director--- well, especially with that perspective, this was an impressive first effort.

Overall, I gave it an 8/10.

A good political statement...A HORRIBLE Comedy!

[squall21287 · 1/10 · 17 August 2003]

It's obvious that Chris Rock had intentions of making a movie that preaches to the American public of the wrongs and injustices that many middle to lower class people face. I am all for that, and from a political standpoint, the movie made some very good points. However, when I go to see a Chris Rock movie labeled COMEDY, I want to watch a movie that is funny, not a movie that rambles on and on about politics. If this movie wasn't supposed to be a comedy, it would be very good indeed. However, this movie is supposed to be comedy, and seeing how the few scenes with Bernie Mac are the only comedic parts of the movie, I am forced to give this movie a low score.

2 out of 10

are you kidding me?

[myurkus · 13 August 2003]

I knew not to see this one in the theater, but I am pretty surprised at how bad it is. It seems forced and disjointed, and the only thing that kept me from shutting it off is that you never know when Rock or Mac will be funny for a scene. If Rock doesn't start taking better roles,if you have seen Down to Earth or that horrible flick with Hopkins you know what I mean, he is never going to be able to really get to the next level, which would be a shame. He reminds me of Eddie Murphy in the early eighties, getting off to a great start and then fizzling out(The Distinguished Gentelman? Talk about jumping the shark.) His character is bland and predictable, and it is hard to watch someone as funny as him play such a role. All of the supporting cast except for Mac is terrible, and the credits have more plot than the movie. The funniest parts,like him imagining himself getting shot after being elected, are just watered down parts from his standup,which is generally terrific. Bottom line, instead of catching this one, stare at the wall for an hour and forty. You'll be a better person for it.

Just Fun!

[christa-pelc · 6/10 · 16 January 2020]

It's just a silly, funny movie! Don't think too deeply or expect Oscar performances- just a bunch of laughs.

Not completely straight-faced, but still a mediocre directorial debut from Chris Rock for the most part

[Beta_Gallinger · 5/10 · 24 September 2008]

This piece of political satire, starring comedian Chris Rock, who also co-wrote it and made his directorial debut with it, was released in 2003, but I didn't see it, nor did I even hear of it, until a couple years ago, when it came on TV and I watched it. I'm not sure if I even really knew exactly what it was about before I saw it, or what I was in for, but it turned out that what I was in for was a political spoof filled with mediocre gags, with only occasional funny moments. I watched it a for the second time last night, and it didn't seem to really improve, so I see no point in watching it a third time.

Mays Gilliam is a neighbourhood alderman in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, he ends up losing his girlfriend and being fired from his job, so things aren't looking up for him, but it's about to change. A presidential candidate, running against vice president Brian Lewis, has died in a plane crash, and Gilliam is soon selected to replace him! As the election draws near, Gilliam faces a number of challenges, trying to rise significantly in the polls (he starts out very low). It helps when his brother, Mitch, becomes his running mate, but it doesn't help that Mays doesn't know the real reason why he was chosen to run (because they were sure he would lose, and increase the chances of somebody else in their party winning the next election), nor does it help that Lewis is going to great extremes to discredit Gilliam with his campaign ads!

One example of an attempt at humour that fails is the scenes involving Gilliam's girlfriend (or ex-girlfriend), Kim, played by Robin Givens. She first appears just before she leaves Gilliam, with her tirade about how terrible he is, which is supposed to be funny, but I found it, well, maybe not quite annoying, but close. I would say the same goes for most of the other scenes involving the character (the film shows her trying to win back Gilliam after she hears about him running for president), but she's only a small part of the film. Bernie Mac, who amused me a lot when I watched "The Bernie Mac Show" a few years ago, plays Mitch Gilliam in this movie, and some moments involving him are amusing, such as how the two Gilliam brothers greet each other by socking one another in the stomach. (Since Mac died just last month, I guess now is an appropriate time for me to say R.I.P.) However, the humour, no matter which actors/characters are involved, rarely rises above mediocrity, and since the laughs are supposed to be a big part of "Head of State", that's not a good thing.

As I pointed out, and as you may have already known before, Chris Rock made his directorial debut with this 2003 comedy. Since then, he has directed another comedy movie, 2007's "I Think I Love My Wife", which he also co-wrote, like he did with this film. I haven't seen that second full-length directorial project from Rock, but it doesn't appear to be much more popular than this first one of his, so I might end up seeing it, but I'm in no hurry. As for "Head of State", which I have now seen twice but still can't write a very positive review of, I've seen MUCH worse comedies from this decade, the worst probably being "Epic Movie" (probably the worst excuse for a comedy I've ever seen), and the humour in this film is high above the disgustingly puerile "humour" you'll find in films like that, but this comedy still doesn't quite cut it. Due to the lack of laughs, I can see why it has never received very much attention.

Amateur garbage!

[filmfreak-5 · 24 April 2004]

I'm sorry to be so rude as in the topic, but sadly it is true. This film offers film making at a provocative low level. Chris Rock is a horrendous actor in this film, and you think you can't possibly see worse until you stumbles across Robin Givens, who gives it an extra edge of total over acting.

Nothing in this film is positive, I have no idea what on earth Chris Rock was thinking. The plot is lame, predictable and ridicolous, but it's ok - it's still the best part of the film.. Several of the shots in this film are even done at a kindergarten level, any film maker will frown watching this, as did I..

-10/10 - I'm offended for being presented to this piece of junk, stay away all costs!

Head of State

[Millennialprince · 5/10 · 11 January 2020]

Head of State is a movie that should be way smarter and sharper than what it is. A movie premise about a black man running for President should be rife with possibilities. But Chris Rock took the lazy way out and made this movie a broad comedy how very disappointing. A lot of the characters feel like cartoon caricatures with the notable exception of Debra Lassiter played by Lynn Whitfield and Martin Geller played by Dylan Baker, respectively. Honestly, a lot of this film feels dated, and it reminds me of very unfunny SNL sketches from the early 2000s. But the movie does have some redeeming qualities, I particularly liked the moment where Chris Rock's character tells Dylan Baker's character you get to represent yourself and I have to represent my entire race. I thought this scene was very insightful and thought provoking. I kind of wish the entire movie was like this as opposed to being a broad comedy that panders to the lowest common denominator. But on the positive side, Chris Rock has some funny zingers, and he has some great chemistry with the lovely Tamala Jones. So you can say the movie isn't completely without social merit. And today in 2020, the film serves as an interesting time capsule of sorts. Head of State came out back in 2003, five years before Barack Obama got elected as President in 2008. So I guess sometimes life can intimate art and I use the term art loosely. Honestly, movies like Bulworth and Primary Colors handle race and politics way smarter and sharper than this film ever could. So I would recommend watching those films over Head of State. In conclusion, Head of State is a rather mediocre film that's ultimately forgettable.

Head of State: 6/10

[movieguy1021 · 6/10 · 7 February 2004]

I don't really like Chris Rock. I don't really like stand up comedians, and I thought Bad Company was pretty bad, so I wasn't first in line to see Head of State. I did see about 10 minutes of it in theaters (I walked into it after The Core-don't tell anyone), and I thought it was ok, nothing more. And that's what it basically is.

Rock plays Alderman Mays Gilliam, for whom nothing seems to go right. After the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidental election dies, the Democratic party is looking for just a regular person, because they know they can't win. Who else would they pick except for Mays? And what seems to be a hopeless race turns around becuase Mays knows what it's like to be a normal person in America. Of course, incumbent Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy) starts a smear campaign. Soon Mays's credibility is out the window. What is he to do?

All of the humor in Head of State really came and went. For many times, there were fifteen minute stretches of laughless space. And even in between those stretches, it wasn't that funny. There were a couple places that were hilarious, but only a few of them, so I won't spoil them. Thankfully, a lot of the humor wasn't all that racist, although some was just white people acting like black people, or misinterpreting slang. Some of it, though, was smart political humor, and I'm thankful that it had some merit to it, and was just not another movie like Bringing Down the House, where, although it was funny, all of the humor was dirty and racist.

Along the way of the campaign, Mays realizes that he needs a vice president. So who else does he choose but his brother (Bernie Mac)? Although heavily advertised for Mac, he's not in it much, and he isn't really that funny. He's a mediocre comedian, making a mediocre turn in a mediocre movie.

My rating: 6/10

Rated PG-13 for language, some sexuality and drug references.

Very funny and deeply satirical.

[dcripton · 8/10 · 28 March 2003]

This was just what the doctor ordered. At a time when I want to be critical of the government as well as be entertained, this was the film. The story is basically "Rocky" if he had run for president instead, but that doesn't detract from the laughs. All the performances have a high pitched feeling of Rock himself. Several bits that tap into his unique stand up presence as well. I recommend this film highly.

Stay away. . . you've been warned!!

[sbdts · 2/10 · 6 April 2003]

I'm a big fan of Chris Rock's stand-up comedy, and also a Bernie Mac fan too, but there's nothing funny about this movie and it was a huge disappointment. I thought it would never end, a minute watching this seemed like forever. The storyline just didn't cut it either. Avoid this like the plague. . . . . 2/10.