Posted: 03/30/2003

Head of State

(2003)

by Hank Yuloff

Says Hank: “I laughed harder at many of [Chris Rock’s] lines from last year’s Bad Company.”

In one of those made for HBO clips, Chris Rock said he wanted to direct Head of State so that we would see what he had going on in his head when he wrote the script. It seems the evil triumvirate of the Writer/Producer/Star can bite even this most talented of individuals. While not bad, Head of State is going to go down as one of Rock’s forgettable movies, notable only because it is his first time directing.

I laughed harder at many of his lines from last year’s Bad Company. This one is definitely a rental, so you can hear the director’s comments while watching the movie. Since it will most likely be an off the cuff kind of thing, my guess is that will be funnier than the movie.

Rock plays Mays Gilliam, a Washington, DC alderman who is doing some real good for his community, including rescuing an elderly lady and her cat from a building that is about to explode. This makes the evening news in DC and he comes to the attention of the leaders of the Democratic (presumably) party who need an emergency candidate for President since their guy just died in a head on plane collision with the jet of his running mate. As fast as you can say Walter Mondale, Rock takes his place—presumably as a way to show the ever more diverse growing populace that the Democratic (presumably) party is the place to be in four years when a “real” Democrat (presumably) runs for office.

Head of State takes us through the final 10 weeks of the campaign, showing us how Gilliam develops from party dupe into a real candidate and possible winner of the election. Rock’s acting can not be questioned. As director, he gave himself all the inspiration he needed. He does the same for Bernie Mac (The Bernie Mac Show), who plays his brother and eventual running mate. Mac is funny.

Also good is Tamala Jones (Turn It Up, On The Line) as Rock’s love interest. Nick Searcy (One Hour Photo) plays Vice President Lewis, Gilliam’s opponent. The stereotype of the bungling politician is way old and Searcy is not given enough to pull it off. It could be the times we are currently in, but hearing a Republican (presumably) candidate for the White House continuously say “God Bless America, and no one else,” really hits home that we (USA) are not the most popular country at the moment because of people like this. Rock really hits a nerve here.

Who doesn’t make it? Robin Givens (Blankman) as Gilliam’s ex-girlfriend who wants him back as soon as he becomes famous. She’s annoying every second she is on screen—and not in a funny way. Tracy Morgan (Saturday Night Live) is wasted without enough material to showcase his talents.

Head of State is going to open huge with Rock’s star power. He is one of the funniest men in America and I signed on for this review because I knew he would entertain me. I’ve watched Chris Rock Bigger & Blacker so many times I was drawn in on Rock’s name alone. I’m sure he will get me into his next film for the very same reason. It could be because much of the humor is aimed at a younger demographic, but I feel that this movie just jumped around too much and had too many holes in the timeline for it to be completely worth more than the rental look I mentioned above.

Hank Yuloff is an advertising guy in Los Angeles who only got eight our of 22 movies right in his own Oscar pool for 2002… So what does he know?

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