Amazon Prime Video has released a new movie called G20, starring Viola Davis as the principled and heroic Black president of a fantasy world. The film follows President Danielle Sutton as she attends her first major international event, the G20 summit in Cape Town, South Africa, where she must save the day from an army of shadowy bad guys.
The movie is set to revive the “patriotism through punches” trope popularized by action movies like Air Force One and White House Down. However, its release coincides with a shift in global politics, with many countries viewing the US as a global villain. The film’s portrayal of the president as the leader of the free world feels tone-deaf and inappropriate given the current climate.
The script is also marred by poor writing, including unclear motivations for the bad guys and over-the-top plot twists. The lead Australian villain is casually racist towards Asian people, which adds to the movie’s overall lack of subtlety.
Despite its star power, G20 fails to deliver an engaging story or a coherent message. It feels like a vanity project aimed at currying favor with the current administration, but instead comes across as offensive and tone-deaf. The movie’s release serves as a reminder that some action movies are better left in the past.
Source: https://slate.com/culture/2025/04/g20-viola-davis-movie-2025-prime-president.html