What a funny opening scene. The names of a bunch of politicians and public figures are tossed on the screen, and followed by a disclaimer that gives the audience an indication of what they will not see in this movie. What you do see is Chris Rock, a Washington DC alderman who has a series of really bad days, dumped by his shrewish girlfriend (Robin Givens),finding he's lost his job and even having his bike crushed. But the sudden rescue of a woman and her cat from a building that's about to be blown up has him made a local hero, and some slimy politicians decide to use him in a scheme for one of their candidates to end up as the presidential nomination for their party. Like other candidates in similar political films, he becomes a hero in the press, even getting his rather square white followers at a political rally to join him in a rap song. The gorgeous Lynn Whitfield just plays one of the political influencers who obviously will feel guilt as you begin to see his possibilities.

This very funny political spoof had me in stitches, obviously not realistic but enthusiasically garnering my attention from the start and enjoying Rock's enthusiasm as he gets into the role of presidential candidate. This certainly isn't for all tastes, so I can understand the variety of different level of reviews. This is the type of film that you have to take seriously while not taking it seriously because its views of different cultures and lifestyles gives it a fair view of all of society without anger or hatred even though there is the subtlety of anger hidden within which doesn't hamper the enjoyment of the film.

Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) is running for Alderman in Washington, D.C. He's the fixer for the local community and becomes a minor hero on local TV. His girlfriend Kim dumps him for not pushing ahead of others and getting the money. When the Presidential candidate dies, the party picks him to take over. Everybody expects him to lose against sitting VP Brian Lewis especially Senator Bill Arnot who wants to run in the next election. In the meanwhile, he can excite the minority base and lose badly.

As a satire, it is not sharp enough to be biting. Much of it boils down to Chris Rock not being a good director. Some of the jabs do hit the mark but far too often, he's flailing away. Chris has his charms which is able to drive the campaign bus but it's not quite enough to make this work.

One candidate for the presidency dies in an accident a couple of weeks before the election. Meanwhile the alderman Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) becomes a hero when he rescues a woman and her cat from an old house that would blow up. However his fiancée Kim (Robin Givens) does not pay his bills and dumps him, and Gilliam loses everything including his fancy car. When Senator Bill Arnot (James Rebhorn) sees the news on television, he plots a scheme with the party advisors Martin Geller (Dylan Baker) and Debra Lassiter (Lynn Whitfield) to invite Mays to be the party nominee and lose the election for the other candidate, Vice- President Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy). Four years later, he would be the candidate and would have the chance of winning the election. Mays has a terrible beginning of campaign but when his older brother Mitch Gilliam (Bernie Mac) meets him in Chicago, he advises Mays to be himself. Will he have the chance to be the first African American President of the USA?

"Head of State" is a silly film that every now and then makes laugh. The uneven plot has memorable scenes, like the party with the guests dancing or when Mays tells that God should protect the whole world; but there are stupid scene, most of them with Mitch Gilliam in interviews. But in general, this film is satisfactory and entertains. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Um Pobretão na Casa Branca" ("A Pauper in the White House")