Heads of State (2025) review

Action star-turned-U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) meets with U.K. Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), they clash over personality differences (Sam doesn't take Will seriously while Will thinks Sam's too "closed off"), but they're forced to work together when henchmen for Russian arms dealer Viktor Gradov (Paddy Considine) attack Air Force One, the two world leaders parachute out of the plane and they then have to make their way to a safe house in Poland.  While the casting is decent - Cena and Elba are in physically good shape, Priyanka Chopra Jonas lends it a bit of feminine toughness as an agent for MI6, Considine channels Viktor Bout, Jack Quaid adds some quirkiness, etc. - the presentation itself is mostly a let-down: the special effects (and visuals in general) are sub-par, Naishuller can't show a fight sequence without including a popular song on the soundtrack, and the narrative exhausts itself well before the final credits roll.  What's most interesting about it is its "political function" as pro-N.A.T.O. "propaganda," with Derringer urging the existing members to not dissolve the alliance and "stay the course" ... which is kind of ironic, since the director was born in Moscow.  I'm guessing he doesn't like Putin very much.