Rating: 
Summary: PG-13....? THAT AIN'T RIGHT!!!
Review: Head Of State puts stand-up genius Chris Rock in the role that just about every black comedian from Richard Pryor to Chris Tucker has talked about playing for years: The first black President of The United States. (Here Rock actually spends the bulk of the film TRYING to become President, but there's always the sequel.) Rock plays Mays Gilliam, drafted by the Democratic Party as a candidate when the Party's front-runners die in a plane crash. The plan is to run a black man, lose the race, and when the next Presidential race comes around, run a White man, but play off of the good-will generated in the black community. The problem is, no one told Mays he isn't supposed to win..... Rock is an engaging screen presence; You can't help but like him, no matter how bad the movies he's in may be, and Bernie Mac, as his Bail-Bondsman Brother/Running Mate, is a scene-stealer who is terribly underutilized here. The problem with Head of State, as with ALL of Rock's films, lies in the PG-13 rating.....In the effort to make a film EVERONE can see, he generally makes films NO ONE wants to see. He waters himself down to the point where his true fans (I.E. fans of his brilliant stand-up and his HBO shows) think "How can that filthy mouth be funny in a family movie?".....Well, Head of State IS funny in places, amateurish in others (Robin Givens shrill performance went WAAAY over the top), and just plain sloppy in others (Mac disappears for huge stretches of the film). Most of this can be attributed to first-time director Rock. He does a competent job, but Head of State seems like it was made for Comedy Central at times. Except Comedy Central would probably allow more adult humor. I enjoyed Head of State, to a point. There are a lot of laughs (I especially enjoyed the sight of a White California neighborhood running, en masse, to the polls to prevent a Black man from becoming President...), but sadly, Chris Rock still hasn't made the Movie that will translate his real-life persona to the screen. He comes through, briefly, in the monologue Mays delivers at the Presidential debate; That scene makes you wish he'd make a whole film like that. Head of State is a decent film, don't get me wrong. It's just that people like me, who know Chris Rock can some day make a GREAT comedy, will have to keep waiting....
Rating:
Summary: Head of State
Review: This movie is in a so-so state. Too serious to be funny - too funny to be serious. Now don't get me wrong, there are some laughs, but those are tempered with a government whose election isn't the democratic way. Maybe the lack of zip makes this undemocratic election too close to home and drags the film down. Maybe Rock took on too much with starring, writing and directing. The whole thing's a maybe.
Rating: 
Summary: A COUPLE GOOD LAUGHS
Review: Chris Rock makes his directorial debut (he also co-wrote the screenplay) and stars as Mays Gilliam, a local Washington, D.C., alderman who's picked by the Democratic party to run for president when their candidate dies unexpectedly during the campaign. As Mays warms to the idea, he chooses his clueless brother (Bernie Mac) to be his running mate, while his ex-girlfriend (Robin Givens) wants him back, with eyes on becoming the first lady. In an attempt to escape the non-stop media coverage of Operation Iraqi Freedom, HEAD OF STATE delivered the necessary escape and in the process presented the audience with a couple good laughs. Sure, this movie isn't going to be an Oscar contender but it's good for what it is: a goofy and fun comedy. If you rip apart this movie too much then you're taking it too seriously: relax, sit back, and enjoy yourself. You might even find yourself chuckling too if you give it a chance.
Rating: 
Summary: Outrageous!
Review: Chris Rock is a comic genius! I was laughing out loud, and I'm not easily amused. Okay, now there are probably some people out there who will find this film slightly offensive, like the whole old white people dancing to hip hop thing, but all I have to say to them is...... LIGHTEN UP! It's just comedy, laugh. Everybody needs to laugh at their own race once in while, so stop being so dramatic. Oh, and I can't go without mentioning Bernie Mac, pure knockout! If you're upset or angry, had a bad day, got some cash in your pocket, GO SEE HEAD OF STAE! Because if you miss it...... That ain't right!
Rating: 
Summary: Truly awful movie!!!
Review: Chris Rock wrote, directed and starred in this mess. The movie is an incredibly transparent attempt on his part to spread a soft and cuddly political agenda, which amounts to "the rich need to have more money taken so that 'workers' can be given more, rather than needing to worry about working hard and putting the American Dream to work for them." I disagree with that attitude, but even if we accept it as gospel, the construction of this movie is so poor as to totally negate any political message. It wants to be a lighthearted romantic fantasy (which is certainly fine) and it wants to be a hard-edged political satire (which is fine too). However, these two styles, especially when neither is very well done, combine VERY awkwardly. 1) There is a "romance" that is easily the lamest and least involving in years. He meets this girl at a convenience store and on the night of the presidential election, they play cute together. She seems to have no problem calling him or seeing him, even though he's surrounded by security. I guess his secret service detail will let anyone in to see him just on their say-so. 2) Chris Rock himself is a terrible actor. It's finally official...after the disasters of DOWN TO EARTH and BAD COMPANY, there is no longer any question. He can be a funny, in your face comedian, but it all turns to oatmeal on screen. 3) There's a scene early on when Rock, as the new candidate, is supposed to be meeting some rich folks at a fundraiser. He dances with his girl for about four seconds, and then suddenly, everyone can dance the electric slide. It's ridiculous, because most of the rest of the movie is constructed to be a traditional movie, not one that goes off on nearly surreal flights-of-fancy, and yet we're expected to believe all these VERY old, uptight donors are suddenly moved to dance to rap music. It's awkward, to say the least. We've certainly seen similar scenes in other movies before, but there is usually a build-up to the uptight folks loosening up. They get drawn in to the excitement, the beat, whatever. In HEAD OF STATE, they go from catatonic to fully engaged in about two seconds flat. 4) Bernie Mac, the only funny thing in the movie, is hardly in it at all. For a satire of our political system, his character is the only one that REALLY satarizes and has fun with our system. He's funny...he needs his own movie. 5) The movie's tempo drags. I found myself looking at my watch. 6) The usually solid Dylan Baker is even pretty bad. I would advise saving my money, and staying far away from HEAD OF STATE!! It's not funny...I saw it with a full audience, including a row of teenagers in front of me, and there was VERY LITTLE laughter. VERY little. And the teens left about halfway through.
Rating:
Summary: Head of Junk
Review: Ugh! The entire movie, all I could think about was, "when is this going to get funny?" I was SO disappointed in this. I figured a film directed and co-written by Chris Rock would be hilarious, and Bernie Mac would be the icing on the cake. Bernie Mac had all of about 15 minutes of screen time in this unfunny comedy. There were about 5 funny parts in the entire movie, which obviously makes for a complete waste of time. Chris Rock didn't even have a very funny character. It needed more Bernie Mac. For a better Chris Rock role, see ANYTHING else with him. For more Bernie Mac, watch his show or Ocean's Eleven. This was a stupid movie ... It is not a ridiculous PG-13 rating. The rating mostly reflected some profanity and brief muted sexual innuendo. This was a waste of time and a waste of money.
Rating:
Summary: ***1/2
Review: I actually really enjoyed this film. Unlike Bringing down the house, this film had humor. It had Chris Rock, starring on both sides of the camera, with a writing credit also. Although all his stan up stuff was good, I think this is his best work. Iliked his speech where he turned off what he was supposed toread, and created a stand-up politics; it was relevant: he was talking about working in places you can afford to livein, cleaning up hotels you cant afford to stay at, and working at hospitals you cant afford to go to. He says "That ain't right." Believe me, his delivery is perfect. I liked the editing of the film where it showed how many days until election day, and the percent of people voting for him, or for his opponent. Although I noticed three or four jump cuts that didn't work, I liked to see the progression of his race. He is humorous, and a lot more caring that most politicians today (Mays Gilliam). Recommended, even by major critics like Roger Ebert. Oh yeah, and the dance scene is as good as it looks. Thank you for taking the time to read my review and feel free to leave me a helpful/not helpful feedback. God Bless America!
Rating:
Summary: At least it's better than Pootie Tang.
Review: Better than Pootie Tang? That's not really saying much, but this film does have a few funny moments. Unfortunately they are too few and far between to give this much more than 2 stars. The best attribute of this film is Bernie Mac's performance as his bailbondsman brother .... and the "Security" gag made me laugh a few times too. Overall, just not a very funny enough or creative enough film to warrent much attention. Wait for it to hit the rental stores and skip the purchasing.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny
Review: Head Of State is a funny movie, but not great. Thank God DC doesnt work like this. The film does have a message though.
Rating:
Summary: Better than I expected it to be
Review: I really wanted to see this movie when it came out in theaters till I saw the scene with the old ladys dancing. Thats when I realized it was a joke, so I just decided not to see it, but I went to go rent so I just made my decision to rent it. It is very funny. Chris Rock and Bernie Mac are very funny in this film. I just suprised me to see this too on screen becuase I would always know they would make a great on-screen team. The story goes as Chris Rocks character "Mays" is running for president and wants his big brother Bernie Mac's character "Mitch" to be his vice president. It has great story and great visiuals and it is a must see film.
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