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Head of State, Chris Rock's first writer-director-star vehicle, is a coarsely funny and openly cynical satire of the American electoral system. Rock plays Mays Gilliam, an obscure and ineffectual Washington, D.C., alderman whose spontaneous act of bravery makes him a perfect "sacrificial lamb" candidate for his party. Party boss Bill Arnot (James Rebhorn) and campaign manager Martin Geller (Dylan Baker) realize Mays can't possibly win but promote him anyway in hopes of scoring points for "diversity." But the candidate -- who also has no delusions about his chances -- uses his truncated campaign to speak his mind rather than mouth the typical banal platitudes, and the public finds his candor refreshing. Rock, who co-wrote the script, hasn't gone to much trouble to make Head of State original: Eddie Murphy's The Distinguished Gentleman covered the same ground a few years ago, and even Warren Beatty's Bulworth made many of the same points. But this film doesn't need dazzlingly innovative scripting when it boasts such impressive comedic talents as Rock and Bernie Mac, who is hilarious as Mays's bail-bondsman brother, Mitch, pressed into service as a running mate. Rock's movie lampoons our political system with perfect pitch, exposing its blatant opportunism and shameless pandering, and it gleefully sticks its thumb in the eyes of our sacred cows. Predictability aside, it's an uproariously funny comedy that provides a refreshing tonic to news from the campaign trail. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Can a high-attitude African-American politician who says what he thinks stand a chance in a presidential campaign? Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) is a straight-talking alderman representing a inner-city neighborhood in Washington, D.C. In the midst of a hard-fought race for the White House, the Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates are killed in an airline crash, and with little time to prepare a new campaign, the Republican candidate, Vice President Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy), seems all but guaranteed to win. With practically nothing to loose, party head Martin Geller (Dylan Baker) approaches Gilliam and asks him to stand as the Democrat's presidential candidate. While Gilliam is dubious at first, before long his streetwise style and willingness to face the issues head-on earns him surprising figures in the polls, especially after he persuades his short-fused older brother, Mitch Gilliam (Bernie Mac), to join the ticket as vice presidential candidate -- a big jump for a bail bondsman. Gilliam's love life also becomes more complicated as his ex-girlfriend Kim (Robin Givens) decides she wants him back now that he has a shot at the White House, even though Gilliam only has eyes for Lisa (Tamala Jones). Head of State marked the directorial debut for comic and actor Chris Rock, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film. Mark Deming

Newsday

Rock and Bernie Mac ... provide a furious combination of stylistically different but equally effective jabs at the status quo.

Product Details

• UPC: 678149071627
• Source: DREAMWORKS VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Pan & Scan
• Sound: Dolby Digital
• Editions: Subtitled, Dubbed
• Time: 1:35:00
• Sales Rank: 7,163

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Chris Rock Triple Feature

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