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Head of State

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Head of State (2003)

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Reviews Counted:115

Fresh:35

Rotten:80

Average Rating:4.9/10

Consensus: Head of State squanders its potentially ripe premise with watered-down satire and formulaic gags.

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Genre: Comedies

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,... 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]

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

Starring: Chris Rock, Bernie Mac, Dylan Baker, Tamala Jones, Lynn Whitfield, James Rebhorn, Nick Searcy, Robin Givens, Tracy Morgan, Nate Dogg

Director: Chris Rock

Director: Chris Rock
Screenwriter: Chris Rock, Ali Leroi
Producer: Ali Leroi, Michael Rotenberg, Chris Rock
Composer: Marcus Miller
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution LLC

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Reviews for Head of State

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
09/30/05
Scott Nash
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

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

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
03/31/05
Rory L. Aronsky
Rory L. Aronsky
Film Threat

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: NYC Film Critic | comment Comment
03/05/05
Ethan Alter
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: tonymedley.com | comment Comment
10/07/04
Tony Medley
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com

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

Full Review Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) | comment Comment
09/20/04
Mark Collette
Mark Collette
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

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
Martin Scribbs
Low IQ Canadian

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 Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
01/26/04
Janet Branagan
Janet Branagan
Apollo Guide

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 Source: Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) | comment Comment
01/05/04
Greg Maki
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

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

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
10/17/03
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

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

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Denver Post | comment Comment
08/08/03
Denver Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Yes, and...?

Full Review Source: Mark Reviews Movies | comment Comment
07/08/03
Mark Dujsik
Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
07/02/03
Boston Phoenix
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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 Source: State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) | comment Comment
06/26/03
Nick Rogers
Nick Rogers
State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)

Another mediocre comedy from Chris Rock.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
06/24/03
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
all

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