Head of State (2003)

Starring: Chris Rock, Bernie Mac, Lynn Whitfield
Director: Chris Rock

Rating: PG-13

Studio: DreamWorks SKG

Review Posted: 3.28.03

Spoilers: Minor

By Sara M. Fetters.

"Rock’s Directing Debut a Real Mess"

Chris Rock has not exactly proven himself as an actor. As a stand-up comedian, there are fewer funnier men in the country. He’s fearless on stage, no topic or idea off-limits to his wit, froth and fury. He’s a modern-day Richard Pryor, the type of acerbically funny comic and observationist the world needs.

But in his acting pursuits, Rock just doesn’t do well. He’s stiff and uncomfortable on camera, especially when it comes to romantic or emotional scenes. He just can’t seem to get a handle on them and it’s impossible not to notice. This was the case in Bad Company, Down to Earth and Lethal Weapon 4, and it is again the case in Head of State. Unlike those films, however, where Rock could blame the writers or directors for not helping him get a handle on his characters, he has only himself to blame here. He’s writer, producer and director on Head of State, and as a social political comedy on if a black man could ever be elected president, this movie does more than fail miserably.

Rock plays Washington, DC alderman Mays Gilliam. Mays just wants to help those he from the old neighborhood desperately in need and have been neglected for too long by the white, corporate power establishment. When he goes too far helping a woman rescue her cat from a building set to be demolished, the city removes him from his Alderman position leaving him without a job or a focus to his life.

But when the presidential and vice presidential nominees for one of the political parties (the film never has the guts to say which one) die in a mid-air collision and with the current vice president Lewis (Nick Searcy), and presidential nominee, sitting at a comfortable 85% approval rating, the party decides they need a patsy to finish out the last eight weeks of the race. Seeing Mays bravely rescuing the woman and cat on television, they decide to run the fast-talking Alderman for president, hopefully appeasing the ethnic vote and setting themselves up for a solid race in 2008.

Soon, Mays is running for the highest office in the land. Following the strict orders of party officials and campaign handlers Debra Lassiter (Lynn Whitfield) and Martin Gellar (Dylan Baker), the country’s first black candidate is mingling with teamsters and arguing with big corporate bosses. But after meeting with his brother Mitch (Bernie Mac) in Chicago, Mays realizes he needs to speak his mind and be himself if he’s going to have a shot beating Lewis. Suddenly he’s shooting from the hip telling it like it is, riding around in a chrome-plated bus and dressing like a hip-hop rapper while sweeping up America’s working class into a patriotic fervor.

With only six weeks to go in the election, can this sort of ghetto-style campaigning win the presidency? Will the party allow their patsy candidate the opportunity to win if he’s suddenly got the chance? Is the United States ready for a black president?

Head of State has a lot on its mind and brings up some interesting points about race and race relations in current America. Unfortunately, Rock doesn’t know what to do with any of them, resorting to cheap sight gags best left to Airplane or The Naked Gun series. What’s worse, good actors like Whitfield, Mac and Baker look lost and out of place, Rock not having a clue as director on how to get them more involved in the proceedings. Whitfield, in particular, is a mess. It’s obvious she wants nothing to do with the film, the gifted actress rushing through her scenes and dialogue as if late for a dinner date.

There are a few bright moments. Searcy, specifically, makes the most of his character. Lewis is not a bright man and feels as if eight years serving under a dope of a president makes it his right to be the next commander-in-chief. He’s fond of commenting on how he’s a war hero and Sharon Stone’s cousin, qualifications that make him ideal to be president in modern America. Lewis also likes finishing off speeches by saying, “God bless America, and nowhere else,” as if the almighty only had time to focus on one particular area of the planet.

As for Rock, he’s wooden and uncomfortable on camera, just like in his previous acting forays. His romantic scenes with Stephanie March are almost painful to watch, the comedian having zero chemistry with the beautiful young actress. Yet, Rock does wake up twice in Head of State, both scenes occurring on stage while Mays adlibs some speeches. Rock prowls across the stage like a tiger during the heat of the hunt, alive with energy and passion. As a stand-up, it’s obvious this is where he feels most at home, and as such Head of State achieves true comic momentum during these sequences.

If only the rest of the film weren’t so inept. Rock hasn’t a clue as to what he wants to say, bringing up issues and ideas willy-nilly and then doing nothing with them. Head of State plays like a student film put together by a particularly struggling young novice and, as such, even at 90-minutes it’s nearly too painful to sit all the way through.

Rating: 1.5 out of 4

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