G20 review: Viola Davis action thriller is far from a good movie

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A star rating of 2 out of 5.

As a cinema lover, I can’t help but appreciate the optimistic touch in the latest G20 production, given the tense global situation that appears to be escalating under our current presidential administration. It’s only natural for filmmakers to infuse their work with a sense of hope and unity during challenging times.

In movies, there have been instances where the U.S. President faces off against terrorists (like Harrison Ford versus Gary Oldman’s character in Air Force One), but this is the first time that a female leader engages in such combat on screen. As of now, we haven’t witnessed a real woman as the U.S. president, so we must rely on Hollywood to fulfill our expectations.

From my perspective as a movie critic, this film’s title hints at a narrative centered around a G20 summit, where global heads of state convene in a luxurious South African hotel for high-stakes discussions on pressing international matters.

President Danielle Sutton (played by Viola Davis) is accompanied by her husband Derek (Anthony Anderson), their son Demetrius (Christopher Farrar) and daughter Serena (Marsai Martin), who has a strained relationship with her mom. “I hate you, Mom,” Serena seems to express, causing distress for Danielle. This tension escalates when Secret Service agents detain Serena in a bar, an incident that gets widely publicized.

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Currently, there’s an exciting surge of new movie premieres captivating audiences across the UK. Movies like “Wicked”, “Nosferatu”, “The Brutalist”, and even the anticipated sequel “Moana 2” are creating quite a sensation in our cinemas.

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Danielle Sutton certainly isn’t like Donald Trump who only thinks about himself. She promises, “I won’t let this gathering be just another empty talkfest,” but her good intentions are quickly put aside when a terrorist group manages to infiltrate the G20 meeting (it seems they were on the inside).

Edward Rutledge (portrayed by Antony Starr) is orchestrating this uprising, appearing to be a man on a mission to unmask political hypocrisy, leveraging sophisticated deepfake AI technology. However, beneath the surface, his real aim is not just about exposing deceit but also about creating chaos in worldwide financial markets through manipulation of cryptocurrencies.

It’s clear where the G20 storyline is headed, even from this summary alone. The narrative unfolds similar to an iconic action movie like Die Hard, with Davis’s character taking on the role of John McClane, skillfully avoiding terrorists while also protecting the British Prime Minister, who resembles Boris Johnson in his portrayal by Douglas Hodge as a buffoonish figure.

What’s interesting is that Danielle has a military background, having been a valiant soldier who graced the cover of Time magazine due to her heroic act of rescuing a child in Fallujah. In essence, she’s proficient with firearms.

Danielle will soon be tearing her red dress off and exchanging heels for trainers in an attempt to outsmart the villains. As it turns out, even the president’s husband and children are part of the action, making things far more complicated for Rutledge and his crew.

As Starr, well recognized from The Boys and originally hailing from New Zealand, narrowly avoids becoming a stereotype, yet there’s an underlying sensation that he resembles a budget version of Alan Rickman. His Die Hard character serves as the benchmark for mercenary villains, making it difficult to forget his impact in that role.

Viola Davis has proven her knack for action with her impressive performance in 2022’s The Woman King, and she carries that confidence through to the action sequences in this film. In simpler terms, she exudes a toughness that can only be described as “pretty awesome.

In a spirit of fairness towards G20 and its director Patricia Riggen (The 33), it’s important to note that the film doesn’t shy away from humor. A particularly amusing scene occurs when Demetrius comes across a pair of security personnel disguised as hotel staff. After observing them perform some remarkable action sequences, he jokes: “Wow, you’re from Wakanda?” It seems as though nearly everyone has watched Black Panther these days.

In regards to Marvel, the character portrayed by Clark Gregg (known as Agent Coulson from Agents of Shield) assumes the role of a vice president, while the talented actress Elizabeth Marvel, who previously held the presidential position on Homeland, takes over the treasury secretary position in this context.

Although boasting an upscale ensemble of actors, this offering on Prime Video is remarkably unchallenging. It doesn’t provoke or offend, it simply fills time, and perhaps distracts you from the tumultuous global political landscape. However, it falls short of being a truly excellent film.

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2025-04-09 19:16