MOVIE - HEAD OF STATE - Review Rating $$$$ (OUT OF 10)

STARRING - Chris Rock (Mays Gilliam), Bernie Mac, Tamala Jones, Lynn Whitfield, Dylan Baker, Robin Givens, Nick Searcy, Stephanie March & Nate Dogg.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER - CHRIS ROCK

A political comedy that sees a down and out African-American Alderman, Mays Gilliam (Rock), get drafted to be the Democratic Presidential candidate.

Head of State violates movie comedy golden rule #1 - Thou Shalt Be Funny. Head of State also violates moviemaking rule # 6 - Generally, its not a good idea for the star of the film to be the screenwriter and director as well.

I happened to be watching Jimmy Kimble Live the other night. He told a joke that bombed and Kimbel reminded himself, out loud, that if no one laughs at a joke in rehearsal than its unlikely anybody will laugh at it during the real show. The problem, with being the director / screenwriter / lead actor in a movie, is that you think the material is funny and people will laugh in rehearsal even if it isn't.

The story in a movie comedy, as a rule, is not usually held to the same standard of sensibility that is required of scripts in serious films. Satire and political humour, however, require plausibility. The movie Scream was funny because it poked fun at low-budget horror movies. Sienfeld was a success because it poked fun at our drab ordinary existence. The reason most of the jokes bomb, in Head of State, is that the premise is so far fetched. Head of State pales in comparison, to other truly funny political satires, such as Wag the Dog or the excellent but hard to find film, Being There (circa 1977), starring the late, great Peter Sellers.

The other problem you'll notice with Head of State is its almost complete lack of energy and enthusiasm. Its been a long time since I have watched a movie where the entire cast, including the extras, looked bored. You'll be bored too. Rock, the director, shouldn't give up his day job.

Head of State doesn't get my vote.

Running time - 95 minutes

ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS:

Roger Ebert's Review

Rotten Tomatoes Reviews

HEAD OF STATE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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