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Head of State

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Head of State (2003)

30%
17%
31%
N/A
N/A
N/A
30 %
Reviews Counted: 115 Fresh: 34  Rotten:81 Average Rating: 4.8/10
 
Consensus: Head of State squanders its potentially ripe premise with watered-down satire and formulaic gags.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Synopsis: Celebrated comedian-writer-actor-talk show host Chris Rock can now add film director to his resume. Cowritten by Rock and Ali LeRoi, HEAD OF STATE follows an unassuming Washington D.C. alderman, Mays Gilliam (Rock), as he finds himself embroiled in a presidential election. Just weeks... Celebrated comedian-writer-actor-talk show host Chris Rock can now add film director to his resume. Cowritten by Rock and Ali LeRoi, HEAD OF STATE follows an unassuming Washington D.C. alderman, Mays Gilliam (Rock), as he finds himself embroiled in a presidential election. Just weeks before the nation is about to elect a new president, one of the top candidates is killed in a plane crash. Plotting a future run in 2008, Senator Bill Arnot (James Rebhorn) convinces his staff--Debra Lassiter (Lynn Whitfield) and Martin Geller (Dylan Baker)--to pick a replacement who has no chance of winning. But he gets more than he bargained for when he selects Mays. At first merely thankful to be in the spotlight, Mays plays the puppet, but eventually, he uses his power to actually say something meaningful. And when he selects his bail bondsman brother, Mitch (Bernie Mac), to be his running mate, everyone is shocked to discover that Mays is giving the people exactly what they want. Rock uses his natural ability to blend humor and substance as a director, resulting in an entertaining film that pushes buttons without leaving too deep a mark. [More]

Genre: Comedies

Starring: Chris Rock, Bernie Mac, Dylan Baker, Tamala Jones, Lynn Whitfield

Director: Chris Rock
Screenwriter: Chris Rock, Ali Leroi
Producer: Ali Leroi, Michael Rotenberg, Chris Rock
Composer: Marcus Miller

DVD Info

Release:

Dec 8, 2003

[DVD Details]

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By: Name | Fresh | Rotten | Date | Source
 
 
Ratings Image
2/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
2.5/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
2/4

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Full Review | comment Comment
09/30/05
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs
Ratings Image
2.5/5

'...Along comes Chris Rock with “Head of State”, a mild comedy...'

Full Review | comment Comment
03/31/05
Rory L. Aronsky
Film Threat
Ratings Image
2.5/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
03/05/05
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic
Ratings Image
1/10

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Full Review | comment Comment
10/07/04
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com
Ratings Image
1/4

Not merely satisfied with stereotyping whites, Rock insists on taking shots at blacks, fat people, poor people and even spina bifida patients.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/20/04
Mark Collette
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)
Ratings Image
N/A

Chris Rock suffers from painful verbal constipation in this PG-13 clunker. Hollywood, make it NC-17 when Chris and Bernie run for re-election.

comment Comment
07/18/04
Martin Scribbs
Low IQ Canadian
Ratings Image
68/100

Although a reheated formula, Head of State dishes out a few original laughs due to in part to the writing of Chris Rock.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/26/04
Janet Branagan
Apollo Guide
Ratings Image
3/4

It may be an overly simplistic fantasy, but it's a funny one, and you won't find anything at the cineplex more relevant.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/05/04
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Ratings Image
1/5

Rock serves as star, director, co-writer, and co-producer, so he can’t point fingers at anyone else when the film loses its way.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/04/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
10/17/03
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
2/5

With the whole country watching him, Chris Rock has absolutely nothing of substance to say.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/07/03
Josh Bell
Las Vegas Weekly
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
08/08/03
Denver Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
2/4

Yes, and...?

Full Review | comment Comment
07/08/03
Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies
Ratings Image
2.5/4

Like so many of his other films, it's still not the movie that Chris Rock’s fans know he’s capable of making.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/26/03
Nick Rogers
State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)
Ratings Image
C

Another mediocre comedy from Chris Rock.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/24/03
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
Ratings Image
N/A

. . .no one has talked about prosecuting Chris Rock for his torture of a captive movie audience with his new film Head of State.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/04/03
Charlie Brown
FilmStew.com
Ratings Image
2.5/5

Isn't this the same sort of pandering, middle-brow movie that Chris Rock used to say really means things about in his stand-up act?

Full Review | comment Comment
05/28/03
Stephen Himes
Film Snobs
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/22/03
Jami Bernard
New York Daily News
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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