Why can’t Chris Rock make movies as funny as he is? This time, Rock doesn’t have an excuse — not only does he star in the choppy Head of State, he directs and co-writes, too. Rock has given himself a premise that should have been perfect for his brand of satire: when a presidential candidate is killed in a plane crash, the party leadership (it’s never mentioned which party) plucks his earnest DC alderman, Mays Gilliam, to run a lost-cause campaign in a cynical attempt to gain favor with " the people " for future elections. But as in every movie that’s ever been made about a little guy running for prez, Mays gains a huge following by telling like it is. Not that this honesty ever deals with real issues — rather, it takes the form of that vague, chickenshit " We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore " routine.

When he’s not sinking to this cliché’d level or wasting time with a love-interest subplot, Rock does come up with some funny and pointed bits, like an alcohol company that tries to appeal to underage drinkers with its Crib Malt Liquor. I just wish there were more sketch-like scenes like this. Bernie Mac stars as Mays’s brother and running mate, and Jimmy Tingle does a nice job in a small role as a TV news talking head. (95 minutes)