Suspending disbelief is both a requirement and a challenge in the action comedy “Heads of State”. Premiering worldwide on Prime Video, “Heads of State” is a big-budget summer popcorn movie in every sense of the term. Rather than taking it to theaters, Amazon MGM Studios elected to make it one of their big summer streaming releases. It’s an utterly preposterous concoction. But there is just enough scenic globetrotting, crazy action, and wild set pieces to keep your attention.

The movie stars Idris Elba and John Cena and it wastes no time challenging its audience. Elba plays U.K. Prime Minister Sam Clarke, a bit grumpy and cynical but believable as England’s head of government. Much harder to buy is Cena playing United States President Will Derringer, a former underwear model, turned action movie star, turned America’s Commander in Chief. Both actors put in the work. But while Elba’s sophistication and charm clicks, Cena is less convincing – endlessly oscillating between inspiring world leader and all-out goofball.

A petty (and at times almost juvenile) rivalry has formed between the two heads of state. Clarke is a six-year incumbent with sagging approval ratings who doesn’t like Derringer’s image-first celebrity politician status. Derringer still holds a grudge for Clarke endorsing his opponent via a highly publicized fish and chip dinner. It comes to a head during a press conference as the two prepare to depart London for an important NATO meeting.

Seeing the need for some good press, their chiefs of staff (played well by Sarah Niles for the Yanks and Richard Coyle for the Brits) concoct a relatively simple PR scheme. They reluctantly agree to fly together on Air Force One in an effort to show solidarity. But while in Belarusian air space, their plane is attacks by terrorists loyal to Russian arms dealer Viktor Gradov (Paddy Considine). Clarke and Derringer manage to parachute out as the plane crashes. And while the rest of the world believes them to be dead, the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together if they want to get to safety.

“Heads of State” comes from director Ilya Naishuller who is perhaps known for the considerably better “Nobody” starring Bob Odenkirk. In his defense, this is a much different movie with a much different aim. The screenwriting trio of Josh Applebaum, André Nemec, and Harrison Query lean heavily on comedy which both helps and hurts their movie. It unquestionable shows the film doesn’t take itself seriously (as it shouldn’t). At the same time, the constant petty arguing, the slew of overly corny jokes, the goofy needle drops – it starts to wear thin pretty quick.

Yet the cast works hard to make the movie more entertaining than it has any right to be. It gets a boost from Priyanka Chopra who plays MI6 agent Noel Bissett. She’s a former love interest of Clarke thought to have been killed after a botched operation in Buñol, Spain. Chopra adds some unexpected punch to the action. Equally fun is Jack Quaid who gets a small part playing a goofy yet endearing CIA operator in charge of a Warsaw safehouse.

Even with what seems like stretches of self-awareness, the absurdity of “Heads of State” can be tough to look past. It’s not helped by Cena’s casting, jokes that frequently miss their marks, or the dopey occasions where the movie tries to say something serious. But it’s somewhat saved by Idris’ charisma, Chopra’s grit, and a handful of impressive high-dollar set pieces that energize the movie when it needs it most. Is that enough to justify the potential sequel that is teased at the end? For some, perhaps. For me, probably not.

VERDICT – 2.5 STARS