"Head of State" unfortunately falls into the high-concept category that reduces films to one-line comic premises, and as such may do decent opening business. Making his directorial debut with a screenplay co-written by Ali LeRoi (his collaborator on "The Chris Rock Show"), Rock stars as Mays Gilliam, an obscure D.C. alderman with money, clothes and girlfriend issues. [...] Mays, under the tutelage of experienced campaign manager Martin Geller (Dylan Baker) and adviser Debra Lassiter (Lynn Whitfield), is thrust into the race opposite the sitting vice president (Nick Searcy), who has more than a small sense of entitlement about assuming the top position.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.