'State' better than trailers suggest

"Head of State" is far better than the trailers would suggest, but still not as good as it could've and should've been. The film is a political comedy with no true political stance, nor any fully earned belly laughs. It's a mild diversion and nothing more.\nChris Rock stars as Mays Gilliam, a good-hearted Washington D.C.-based alderman. When both the presidential and vice presidential candidates of an unnamed party (obviously Democratic) die in a head-on campaign-plane-smash-up, a replacement is sought. Inexplicably, Mays is that replacement.\nMays has his hand held during the first couple weeks of his campaign by a pair of overbearingly square advisers, Martin (Dylan Baker) and Debra (Lynn Whitfield). That is until his slaphappy, bail bondsman of an older brother, Mitch (Bernie Mac) intercedes. He tells Mays to speak his mind, and speak his mind he does. Not only does Mays' campaign transmogrify itself into a wheel-based, hip-hop parody, but he also names the outspoken Mitch as his running mate.\n"Head of State," co-written, produced and directed by Rock, lacks much of the conscience and weight of his stand-up act, but still manages a few pointedly funny barbs. Mays is supplied with an around-the-clock prostitute because, as Geller explains, "We got tired of getting caught up in sex scandals, so we commissioned our own team of superwhores." He also imagines his inauguration… as interrupted by a sniper's bullet.\nRock is likable and occasionally funny, but has yet to develop a formidable on-screen presence. Mac is hilarious and has good chemistry with Rock, but is underused. Women get the short shrift in "Head of State" as "Head of the Class" refugee, Robin Givens, gives an annoying, one-note performance as Mays' shrill, stalker-like ex-girlfriend, and Tamala Jones, while cute, figures into a rather hackneyed romantic subplot. "SNL" staple Tracy Morgan makes good, goofy use out of his few minutes of screen time as a stolen meat-selling hooligan.\n"Head of State" is Rock's directorial debut, and as such, it's not bad. Many of the jokes are recycled and then reiterated one too many times, but the flick is not without merit. Hopefully, Rock will inject more of the razor sharp wit he's honed to perfection onstage into his next big screen project.