Movies

Viola Davis Kicks Butt as President in G20

BBG News

A female president wielding an automatic weapon to combat a group of villains in a global economic summit is harder to believe than the concept of a woman as president itself, as portrayed in Patricia Riggen’s action thriller G20. In this film, Viola Davis plays a former war hero who ascends to the U.S. presidency, facing all the challenges and duties that come with the position. It’s both ironic and unfortunate that we find ourselves in a world where a Black female president remains a distant dream, or at least a return to thoughtful leadership. For now, we can only enjoy the escapist fantasy of G20, a movie that delivers on action-movie tropes, albeit in a somewhat predictable manner.

The G20 film begins by showcasing a determined young woman attempting to safeguard a crucial digital artifact, but unfortunately, she’s unable to do so. Subsequently, President Danielle Sutton, portrayed by Davis, is awakened in the middle of the night to handle a household emergency. Her daughter, Serena (played by Marsai Martin), has sneaked out of the White House for a night of clubbing, skillfully evading the vigilant gaze of the Secret Service. Serena possesses exceptional tech skills, while her brother, Demetrius (Christopher Farrarr), is kind-hearted but seemingly lacking in notable talents. However, this movie puts women in the spotlight, even though Derek Sutton (Anthony Anderson), the First Gentleman, also demonstrates courage when he defends his family from danger – although we’ll delve into those events later on.

Following the media’s discovery of Serena’s relatively innocuous teenage indiscretion, a reporter teasingly queries Danielle about how the public should trust her to safeguard them if she can’t even manage her own family. This is what prompts her to invite Serena and Demetrius on her trip with Derek to Cape Town, South Africa, for the G20 summit. The children object, but ultimately have no say in the matter. Consequently, when a band of crypto extremists, spearheaded by the disgruntled bitcoin zealot Rutledge (Antony Starr), penetrate the luxurious hotel housing the summit and seize several world leaders (after executing some, for added drama), Danielle’s family finds itself in danger as well. Balancing her allegiance to her loved ones and her country during a crisis, Danielle must make difficult choices about where to focus her attention.

Davis is exceptionally skilled at portraying characters who face critical life-or-death choices, delivering performances with a profound sense of urgency and gravitas reminiscent of Shakespearean drama. However, the script for “G20” could benefit from more lighthearted moments as the movie currently leans towards seriousness. Written by Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, and Logan Miller, the film shows profound respect for the concept of a Black woman president, but perhaps it could be less somber in parts.

In one scene, Danielle, played by Davis, scolds Serena for disobedience, saying, “You know I had to work twice as hard to get where I am. Why are you making it harder?” Her words resonate deeply with the audience, highlighting the challenges she faced in her career. Despite being marketed as a light-hearted action movie, “G20” is excessively heavy-handed, which doesn’t serve its purpose well. Davis convincingly portrays Danielle’s dedication to saving democracy and her family, but the character seems overburdened by the weight of her responsibilities, without much room for enjoyment.

Despite her wartime knee injury causing discomfort, there’s joy in witnessing Danielle, played by Davis, shed the lower half of her elegant crimson G20 reception gown, making her actions like running, climbing, and hanging from helicopters more manageable. Before the night’s events begin, she exchanges the red stilettos her stylist insisted on for a pair of comfortable red sneakers. Danielle, with her trusted bodyguard Manny (Ramón Rodríguez) by her side, leads a crew reminiscent of “The Poseidon Adventure” through a series of dangerous situations. This group includes the Korean prime minister’s wife (MeeWha Alana Lee), who appears dignified in traditional Korean attire but reveals steel-like determination; the annoying and whiny British prime minister (Douglas Hodge); and the head of the IMF, a formidable figure in velvet pantsuits and towering platform sandals (Sabrina Impacciatore). Despite their initial reservations, everyone comes to trust Danielle, and she never disappoints. Davis demonstrates incredible versatility: handling an automatic weapon with ease, executing impressive martial arts moves, and even using a frying pan to knock out a villain in one of her most memorable scenes. It’s a shame that “G20,” which can be streamed on Prime Video, isn’t playing in theaters, as watching Davis take down the bad guy would be an incredibly moving experience. Sharing this moment with an audience would make it even more powerful. After all, unity strengthens us, division weakens us. Perhaps this applies to our movie-watching habits as well.

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2025-04-11 21:08

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