HEAD OF STATE

US, 2003, 90 minutes, Colour.
Chris Rock, Bernie Mac, Dylan Baker, Nick Searcy, Robyn Givens, Linda Whitfield, Tamala Jones, James Rebhorn.
Directed by Chris Rock.

Chris Rock comedies are a matter of taste. If you like him, then you enjoy his stand-up comic style, his satiric jibes and, generally, his feel good comedy. He has been in Down to Earth, Bad Company and Dogma and hosted the Oscars in 2005.

Head of State is a movie about sinister Washington politicians manipulating the 2004 presidential elections because both candidates have been killed in a head on plane collision. With an eye to success in 2008, Congressman James Rebhorn decides that he needs a candidate who will lose. And he picks the local alderman who is doing his best for the poor African Americans of DC. This gives Rock the opportunity to do a bit of hip-hop campaigning, a Mr Smith Goes to Washington for the 21st century. And it is amusing to watch a good-natured candidate upstaging the politicians, preaching social justice and proving that we all like a bit of the unconventional.

Rock has co-written the film as well as directed it and goes full steam ahead with jokes, routines and the possibility of a black American president. He also gets to make a Mr Smith speech at the end of the TV debate with his opponent, the Vice President (Nick Searcy) whose catchphrase is "God Bless America - and no place else".

1. A star vehicle for Chris Rock, performance, writing, directing?

2. The African- American perspective? On American society? On white people? On the presidency, politics? On Washington, DC, and its ghettos? On African- American rights? On the response of African- Americans to politics? The comic perspective?

3. The popularity of films where the little man or woman is elevated to political importance, has the opportunity to help ordinary people? This film in that tradition? The 21st century and the speculation about an African- American president? The political situation of the Bush era in which the film was made? The critique of Bush attitudes? The attack on capitalism and corporations, political corruption?

4. The title, not explicitly talking about the presidency? The importance of the president as being a head and leader, his consciousness of the state and of the US? This film in support of the presidency - but transformed by Mayes?

5. The comedy, Chris Rock's tradition as a stand-up comic and his one-liners? The humorous situations - defying credibility? But the possibility and these ideals being hoped for?

6. Mayes at work, as an alderman? His interest in the people, his office, offering to drive the bus if the route was closed down? His girlfriend and her two-timing him? Her giving him up? His attraction towards the young woman at the supermarket? His future as a local politician in Washington?

7. The humorous news of the mid-air crash and the candidates for the election being killed? The meeting of the party, the ambitions of the congressman, his plan, his assistants, his wanting to get someone who would lose so that he could stand in 2008? Mayes and his being on television, the decision to go with him? Mayes not being told of the real motivation that he should lose? The two assistants and their going to help him during the campaign? The congressman keeping in the distance at the back?

8. The proposal to Mayes, his thinking it a joke, the consideration, the discussions? His decision to stand?

9. The socials, the party, his leading the people in the dance, the young woman and her waiting at the tables, getting her to dance? The organisers and their being shocked, the people thanking him for an enjoyable time?

10. The campaign, his manner, clothes, ways of speech? Travelling the countryside, the particular interests of each of the states from industry to the cowboys in Texas? The parody of political campaigns?

11. The vice president, his desperate ambitions to be president, his advisers? His wanting to destroy Mayes's reputation? The advertisements inculcating fear, that Mayes was for cancer and other dirty tricks? The reporting that he was in favour of terrorists? The polls going up and down? The incident of violence in the school in Florida, Mayes going, the vice president hurrying in, hugging the child, getting out? His saying, "God bless America and no place else"? His growing exasperation? Mayes and the decision to haunt him, coming on the television, turning up at everything he did, jogging, meals, urging him to the debate?

12. The decision to ask his brother to be his running-mate? Their meeting on the trip to Chicago, the bonds between them, physical sparring, relying on each other? The bluntness of Mitch's interviews on the media? Telling the truth? Mayes and Mitch as a twosome? The debate, the vice president and his platitudes, the questions, Mayes and his moving speech at the end of the debate, having everybody stand up and cheer instead of each side cheering when their candidate spoke?

13. The build-up to election day, the voting, state by state, neck and neck, California - and California electing Mayes? The desperation of the vice president and his punching out his assistants?

14. The two assistants, their working with Mayes, the woman who did not want him to win, did not believe in him, being African- American? The congressman forcing her to take a stand, her going with Mayes? His putting her off the bus? His later calling her, apologising? The man and his support, advice, his being put off as well? Coming back, their loosening up, agreeing with Mayes and his campaign? Winning?

15. The young woman, her support, phone calls? Her becoming First Lady?

16. The happy ending, the optimism of this kind of parody, satire, genial comedy?