Chris Rock thinks he knows what's wrong with America: "What kind of drug policy makes it cheaper to buy crack than asthma medicine?" What proves less obvious, however, is what's wrong with Rock's new comedy, "Head of State," which he co-wrote and directed. While Rock's shining moments as outspoken, if unlikely, Presidential candidate Mays Gilliam reveal some of his trademark scathing sarcasm reminiscent of amateur night at the Apollo, the rest of the movie is fairly cluttered with extras meant to pack a comic punch, but which end up bordering on cartoonishness
Mays Gilliam, is a floundering alderman for the ninth district of Washington, D.C., a neighborhood in which "you can get shot while getting shot." After losing his job and his fiancée, Kim (Robin Givens), it seems Gilliam is out of luck. However, a major political party has recently suffered a setback in the upcoming 2004 Presidential election: their candidate has been killed in a plane crash and they need an emergency replacement.Since it's obviously too late for anything but damage control, the party settles on Gilliam, who they expect to fail miserably in 2004, but win points with the African-American voting base as a setup for the next election. Debra Lassiter (Lynn Whitfield) and Martin Gellar (Dylan Baker) are assigned as Gilliam's campaign team. Gilliam, ignorant that he's supposed to lose, struggles through his first few political events, until his brother, Mitch Gilliam (Bernie Mac) convinces him to ignore the advice of his campaign advisers and speak his mind.
This is when the jokes start rolling, as Gilliam breaks out the red, white and blue jumpsuits, and with his telling-it-like-it-is brand of politics wins the hearts and votes of America.
A love interest and potential first lady, Lisa Clark (Tamala Jones) rounds out this fairly predictably plot-driven comedy -- just try to guess whether Gilliam gets the girl in the end.
This film operates a little differently than Chris Rock's usual. Most notably, he has toned down the goofiness. Although the writing is infused with his sense of humor, a virtual parade of other characters, some acting as effective foils but others falling flat, draw attention away from the nitty gritty of Rock at his best. He dazzles whenever he gets his hands on a microphone with rants about our government and the economy: "How many of you work in a mall you can't afford to shop in? That s**t ain't right!" But he doesn't do it nearly enough.
Even Bernie Mac's comedic performance as VP candidate falls short at times. And Robin Givens as Mays Gilliam's ex-fiancée is more disturbing than funny.
The film has some intelligent things to say about insincere politicians, racism in politics, and American egocentrism. Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy), Gilliam's opposition from the "other party," smilingly repeats his campaign slogan: "God bless America...and no place else." The film's societal commentary is not too tasteless and is extremely timely.
The comedy, however, descends toward slapstick and the literal a little too often. Rock rarely misses a chance to show us what we could imagine already, which occasionally has the effect of running a joke into the ground. Further, some of the African American stereotypes Rock is famous for satirizing get played out to an eyebrow-raising degree.If black stereotypes really insult you, you'll be a tad offended at this movie.
Despite this, Rock's "stage time" is quality as ever, and his costars add to the humor, for the most part.Though Rock could have made his quick political attacks just as well on a bare stage with a single microphone, he effectively tailors his talent to full-length film. Entertaining.
3 stars.
"Head of State"
DreamWorks Pictures
Written: Chris Rock/Ali LeRoi
Directed: Chris Rock
95 minutes
PG-13
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