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Head of State squanders its potentially ripe premise with watered-down satire and formulaic gags.
All Critics (119) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (83) | DVD (5)
A missed opportunity. Apr 10, 2003 | Rating: 2/4
A missed opportunity.
Peter Travers
It's pretty much a toothless dog. Apr 1, 2003
It's pretty much a toothless dog.
J. Hoberman
... I liked this premise in movies like Dave, or the Eddie Murphy movie The Distinguished Gentleman, where the unknown or the underdog becomes the candidate or even the president, but this is so poorly done. Mar 31, 2003
... I liked this premise in movies like Dave, or the Eddie Murphy movie The Distinguished Gentleman, where the unknown or the underdog becomes the candidate or even the president, but this is so poorly done.
Richard Roeper
As a TV sitcom pilot, Head of State might have potential, but, on a multiplex screen, the execution (if not the premise) is thin. Mar 29, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
As a TV sitcom pilot, Head of State might have potential, but, on a multiplex screen, the execution (if not the premise) is thin.
James Berardinelli
Not the sharpest political humor I've ever heard, but it gets my vote for the stupidest fun I've had in a long time. Mar 28, 2003 | Full Review…
Not the sharpest political humor I've ever heard, but it gets my vote for the stupidest fun I've had in a long time.
Michael O'Sullivan
Though the comedy falls short of a debacle -- which is what such egocentric projects tend to be -- it isn't as sharp, fast or funny as Rock's stand-up routines. Mar 28, 2003
Though the comedy falls short of a debacle -- which is what such egocentric projects tend to be -- it isn't as sharp, fast or funny as Rock's stand-up routines.
Rita Kempley
Rock is a man who continues to perpetuate stereotypes for the price of "comedy" and continues making one terrible film after the other. Apr 1, 2014 | Full Review…
Rock is a man who continues to perpetuate stereotypes for the price of "comedy" and continues making one terrible film after the other.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Chris Rock runs for president. Dec 24, 2010 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Chris Rock runs for president.
Nell Minow
'...Along comes Chris Rock with "Head of State", a mild comedy...' Mar 31, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…
'...Along comes Chris Rock with "Head of State", a mild comedy...'
Rory L. Aronsky
Not merely satisfied with stereotyping whites, Rock insists on taking shots at blacks, fat people, poor people and even spina bifida patients. Sep 20, 2004 | Rating: 1/4
Not merely satisfied with stereotyping whites, Rock insists on taking shots at blacks, fat people, poor people and even spina bifida patients.
Mark Collette
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. Jul 18, 2004
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.
Martin Scribbs
Although a reheated formula, Head of State dishes out a few original laughs due to in part to the writing of Chris Rock. Jan 26, 2004 | Rating: 68/100 | Full Review…
Although a reheated formula, Head of State dishes out a few original laughs due to in part to the writing of Chris Rock.
Janet Branagan
This is a very funny satire of our political system and of black culture with the general premise being a black man is chosen to run for president by a white establishment that assumes he'll lose. Chris Rock plays Mays Gilliam, an alderman who finds himself running for President of The United States after the original presidential candidate dies in a plane crash two months before the election. Obviously, he is being set up to lose, but (of course) begins winning over the people and ultimately taking control of his fixed campaign with his street smart unorthodox methods. Bernie Mac plays Alderman's bail bondsman brother turned vice president running mate providing laughter with his rough and rumble ways. Robin Givens plays Gilliam's stalker ex-girlfriend.
Super Reviewer
Foreshadowing. Most Chris Rock-lead movies are terrible, this one is his best.
I'm so glad the studios ended up trusting Chris Rock to direct a movie. Man, he should run for President. Although he crosses the surrealism line a little too often for my tastes, this movie was a hilarious indictment of phoniness in American politicians. I have a little souvenir "Crib Malt Liquor" bottle in my room.
I know what your thinking, Chris Rock in a bad movie?
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