In G20, global diplomacy takes a backseat to chaos when terrorists crash the world’s most powerful summit—and only one person can stop them: the President of the United States, played by none other than Viola Davis. Yes, a woman finally becomes the U.S. President… but only in the movies. Classic Hollywood—progressive in fiction, hesitant in reality.
Davis plays President Danielle Sutton, a strong, strategic, and no-nonsense leader who quickly becomes the target—and the resistance—when the summit is overtaken by an international terrorist faction. She’s not just sitting behind a desk giving orders; she’s taking down enemies with her own two hands, proving that even clichés can be electrifying when Viola Davis is in charge.
Opposite her is Antony Starr as Rutledge, the menacing and methodical villain whose presence turns every scene into a tension bomb. Starr plays Rutledge with the same unsettling charisma that made Homelander iconic—charming enough to intrigue, dangerous enough to fear. He’s your typical bad guy with global domination dreams, but Starr makes him feel just unpredictable enough to keep you watching.
The film itself is a blueprint of action-thriller conventions: countdowns, double-crosses, secret bunkers, and conveniently timed heroism. It’s all been done before, and G20 knows it. But director Patricia Riggen leans into the formula with confidence and energy, allowing the film to become a satisfying ride rather than a thought piece.
Supporting players like Anthony Anderson, Elizabeth Marvel and Ramon Rodriguez serve their purpose well, though they’re often overshadowed by the powerhouse leads. The real hook of G20 is the head-to-head between Davis and Starr, and thankfully, their dynamic delivers.
So the question we face is that is the film is another cliché? Absolutely. Predictable? Mostly. But boring? Never. G20 works because it embraces the absurd and lets Viola Davis do what she does best—own every scene. Add Antony Starr’s deliciously sinister performance, and you’ve got a political action flick that doesn’t break new ground, but certainly blows enough of it up to entertain.
