Released on April 10, 2025, on Amazon Prime Video, G20 is an action-packed political thriller that places Viola Davis in the spotlight as U.S. President Danielle Sutton, a former Army veteran turned commander-in-chief who must fend off a terrorist takeover at a G20 summit in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Patricia Riggen and written by Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, and Logan and Noah Miller, the film boasts a stellar cast, including Anthony Anderson as First Gentleman Derek Sutton, Marsai Martin as their rebellious daughter Serena, Ramón Rodríguez as Secret Service agent Manny Ruiz, and Antony Starr as the villainous Edward Rutledge. While G20 delivers moments of high-octane entertainment and a commanding performance from Davis, its reliance on tired action tropes and a muddled script prevents it from reaching the heights of its inspirations.
A Familiar Premise with Contemporary Flair
The plot of G20 follows a well-worn blueprint familiar to fans of 1990s action flicks like Air Force One and Die Hard. When terrorists, led by former Australian Special Forces soldier Edward Rutledge, seize control of the G20 summit, President Sutton becomes their primary target. Rutledge’s plan involves using deepfake AI videos of world leaders to crash global markets while enriching himself through a cryptocurrency scheme. Sutton, leveraging her military background, must protect her family, rescue fellow world leaders, and prevent a global economic collapse—all while navigating a high-stakes game of cat and mouse in a luxurious Cape Town hotel.
The film attempts to ground its outlandish premise in contemporary issues, touching on cryptocurrency, AI deepfakes, and global economic instability. It also weaves in social commentary, addressing misogynoir and systemic bias as Sutton faces skepticism from white colleagues, like the British Prime Minister (Douglas Hodge), who question her leadership. However, these themes are handled with a heavy hand, often feeling like window dressing rather than substantive commentary. The script’s on-the-nose dialogue and predictable plot points—like Serena’s convenient hacking skills—undermine its attempts at depth, leaving G20 straddling the line between earnest thriller and unintentional parody.
Viola Davis: The Heart of the Film
Viola Davis is undeniably the film’s greatest asset. As President Sutton, she brings gravitas and physicality to a role that could easily have been one-dimensional. Davis, who also served as a producer, infuses Sutton with emotional depth, balancing the character’s steely resolve with moments of vulnerability, particularly in her strained relationship with her daughter Serena. Her action scenes are a highlight, with Davis convincingly wielding weapons and snapping necks in a red gown, evoking comparisons to Harrison Ford’s iconic turn in Air Force One. Critics have near-universally praised her performance, with Collider noting that she “grounds even the most improbable moments with a magnetic presence.”
Davis’s commitment elevates the film above its B-movie trappings, making it a refreshing departure from the white-male-dominated action-hero archetype. Her portrayal of a Black female president is symbolically powerful, especially in a genre where such representation is rare. However, as critics like Tania Hussain have noted, one wishes Davis had a stronger script to match her talent. The film’s reliance on clichés and a lack of narrative coherence often leave her shouldering the weight of a shaky production.
A Mixed Bag of Action and Execution
Director Patricia Riggen, known for Jack Ryan, delivers competent action sequences with slick cinematography and moody lighting. The stunts, coordinated by Grant Powell, are inventive at times, particularly in the film’s tense hotel skirmishes. However, the action often feels choppy, with some scenes—such as an awkwardly pivoting overhead shot—lacking the polish of genre heavyweights like John Wick. The pacing is brisk, clocking in at a tight 1 hour 48 minutes. Still, the script’s overcrowded plotlines, including subplots about family drama and global politics, compete for attention and dilute the stakes.
Antony Starr’s Rutledge is a serviceable but underwritten villain. While Starr, known for his chilling role as Homelander in The Boys, oozes menace, his character’s motivations—a mix of anti-establishment rhetoric and a crypto heist—feel cartoonish and inconsistent. Supporting performances, including Anderson’s earnest First Gentleman and Martin’s spunky hacker daughter, add charm but are hampered by flat dialogue. Other world leaders, like Sabrina Impacciatore’s panicking Italian figurehead and MeeWha Alana Lee’s South Korean First Lady, are underutilized, serving as little more than plot devices.
A Missed Opportunity for Deeper Commentary
The G20 gestures at relevance with its nods to modern concerns like AI misuse and economic volatility, but it never delves beneath the surface. The film’s depiction of a Black female president fighting systemic bias and global threats carries inherent political weight, especially in the context of its release just months after a real-world U.S. election. Yet, as Vulture’s Alison Willmore points out, the film feels like “a relic from an alternate timeline,” its optimistic portrayal of institutional progress clashing with a less hopeful reality. The script’s failure to explore these themes with nuance—or to fully embrace the campy fun of its premise—leaves G20 feeling hollow at its core.
The film’s geopolitical backdrop, including a vaguely defined “Together Act” to combat hunger via digital banking, is more of a plot device than a policy. Similarly, the use of deepfakes and cryptocurrency feels like a checklist of buzzwords rather than a thoughtful exploration of technology’s dangers. Critics have noted that the film’s action-heavy focus overshadows any potential for meaningful commentary, making it a “paint-by-numbers” thriller that prioritizes explosions over insight.
Reception and Cultural Impact
G20 has received mixed reviews, with a 57% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 53/100 on Metacritic, reflecting its polarizing reception. Critics praise Davis’s star power and the film’s escapist thrills but lament its derivative nature and lack of emotional depth. Empire called it “entertaining enough” but not a “world leader in the action movie stakes,” while The Guardian described it as a “serviceable star vehicle” that falls short of its potential. Audience reactions to X are similarly divided, with some lauding its action and diversity, while others decry its predictable plot and “propaganda” vibes.
The film’s release on Prime Video positions it as a “sofaplex” watch—perfect for casual viewing but unlikely to leave a lasting impression. Its evocation of 1990s action classics, combined with Davis’s groundbreaking role, makes it a notable addition to the genre, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel. As Tech Advisor Jess Bacon put it, “Does it need to? I don’t think so. Let Viola Davis front every action film.”
Final Verdict
G20 is a flawed but intermittently fun action thriller that rests squarely on Viola Davis’s formidable shoulders. It delivers the escapist thrills it promises, with well-staged action and compelling lead performance; however, its reliance on overused tropes, shallow plotting, and heavy-handed messaging prevents it from reaching greatness. For fans of Davis or those craving a mindless action fix, G20 is a decent Friday night stream. However, those hoping for a genre-defining epic or incisive political commentary may find themselves disappointed. In the end, G20 is less a summit of cinematic innovation and more a serviceable vehicle for its star to shine.
Rating: 3/5
Stream G20 on Amazon Prime Video starting April 10, 2025.
