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| Head Of State |
| Genre |
Comedy |
| Starring |
Chris Rock |
| Director |
Chris Rock |
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“Head of State” fails to be funny or to make any kind of insightful observations on the political system. After sitting through this film, one wishes that Rock would stop making movies and stick to doing standup comedy.
Chris Rock’s two comedy albums “Roll The New” and “Bigger and Blacker” are simply brilliant. They tackle relevant subject matter, provoke thought and, above all, are very funny. They feature dead-on observations of politics and modern society, with particular emphasis on issues confronting African-American communities. Lets face it, Chris Rock is a funny man.
Prior to “Head of State” he had not been able to find a film that showcased his talents. Take my word for it and avoid the cinematic drivel of “Down to Earth” and “Bad Company”. By choosing to write, star and direct, I assumed he was taking control of his career. (I always wonder why actors want to direct. Would Ron Howard or Francis Ford Coppola attempt to star in one of their films?) So would we finally get material that is up to Rock’s level? The answer is a resounding no.
Rock plays Mays Gilliam, a nice-guy alderman for a run-down Washington, D.C., neighborhood. When both his party's candidates are killed in a plane crash, a political insider (James Rebhorn), with his eye on the 2008 nomination, picks Mays as the new presidential hopeful. Choosing Mays makes it look as if his party cares about minorities, but more importantly, it gives him a clear path to the nomination for the next election.
Along with some prepared "off-the-cuff" remarks and a good suit, Mays is handed a campaign staff: a manager (Dylan Baker), an adviser (Lynn Whitfield), a security guard, and a lovely blonde whose job is to prevent any sex scandals during the campaign. Plus, the movie features Bernie Mac, who, as Mays' brother/running mate, is a charismatic presence with his intense gaze, loud suits and fancy hats.
When Mays begins to speak his mind, his numbers go up in the polls, and his opponent (Nick Searcy), a guy whose slogan is "God bless America and no one else," starts to worry. In response he runs ads playing to the worst kind of paranoia and prejudices of the population, suggesting the white house would literally explode if a black man became president. (But in all fairness, in “Deep Impact”, when Morgan Freeman played the president, the world did almost end.)
In two small subplots, Mays is stalked by an ex-girlfriend (Robin Givens), while he pursues a beautiful and idealistic gas station attendant (Tamala Jones). Both these stories are pointless and seem to interrupt the flow of the plot.
Early on, the film has some of the sweet and savvy foolishness of an early Steve Martin or Adam Sandler comedy, but overall it's sadly unsubtle and formulaic. For whatever reason, Rock has shaved the sharp edge off his humor. It's nowhere near the brilliant, bracing, unnerving shock of his best standup work.
I’ll admit that film did have some good one liners, ”My credit is so bad they won't take my cash” and “My neighborhood is so bad, you can get shot while you're getting shot.” But overall, the film feels unprofessional and uncreative.
The low point of the film is when Rock faces off against his opponent on national television. Mays says, “America is blessed. If America were a woman, she would be a big titty woman.” In the context of the film, Rock says this in a debate, that he supposedly wins, against his opponent, a war hero and the vice president for the last 8 years. The line is not supposed to be ironic or some kind of a comment on the ignorance of urban America. The movie is just that idiotic. It makes “Bringing Down the House” seem very insightful.
There is a movie coming out in the next year written by Chris Tucker called “Mr. President”. The premise is that a flamboyant young black man becomes president of the United States. Hilarity ensues. I can’t wait for that. Maybe Sinbad can capitalize on this trend and make “Commander In Chief” as a straight to video release.
When it comes to finding his breakthrough role in a film, Chris Rock falters yet again. To make reference to one of his standup routines, in this movie, Rock keeps it real, real dumb.
BOTTOM LINE: “Head of State” is a failure on nearly every level, having nothing insightful to say and producing very few laughs. +D. |
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| "We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then question the manner in which I provide it." |
- Jack Nicholson
A Few Good Men
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Distributed Beers
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| 5 |
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot |
| 4 |
Guinness Draught |
| 3 |
Newcastle Brown Ale |
| 2 |
Bass Pale Ale |
| 1 |
Samuel Adams Boston Lager |
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