‘G20’ is predictable and a bit of a mess, but watching Viola Davis kick butt is a welcome distraction

There’s an alternate universe where the United States has an African American female president. She presents a bold economic plan to world leaders at the G20 Summit with the aim of promoting financial stability in developing nations. This may seem like a pipe dream especially after last week’s tumultuous economic fluctuations, and for now it is. However, viewers can dissociate from any economic realities for 108 minutes and watch Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis in her latest action film “G20.”

Davis plays President Danielle Sutton, a diplomatic, sneaker-wearing, Iraq War veteran and wife and mother. President Sutton attends the G20 Summit in South Africa with her husband Derek (Anthony Anderson) and two teenage children Serena (Marsai Martin) and Demetrius (Christopher Farrar). Before meetings and negotiations get underway, terrorists swarm the summit and hold world leaders hostage. In the midst of the shooting and the chaos, President Sutton and a few captives manage to escape thanks to the quick thinking of her Secret Service agent, Manny (Ramón Rodríguez). Unable to leave anyone behind, she goes back and tries to save the world from economic collapse, world leaders from terrorists and her family from a tragic fate.

Christopher Farrar, Marsai Martin, Viola Davis and Anthony Anderson as the Sutton family in “G20.” PHOTO: ILZE KITSHOFF © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC

Danielle’s influence and strength are captured on screen in a number of ways. Her stylist literally puts her in a red superhero cape for the summit’s cocktail hour. There’s a shot of her on the cover of TIME magazine wearing Army fatigues while carrying a boy out of the rubble in Fallujah. She is not afraid to “bulldoze” world leaders and bend them to her will for the sake of positive foreign relations. She also practices martial arts in the White House Rose Garden with her Secret Service agent, Manny. It’s worth noting that Danielle and Manny have more onscreen chemistry than Danielle and Derek. No, Dani and Manny are not having an affair. Danielle can do all of this and still be present for her children at dinnertime. Her only weakness is a shattered knee she got in the war and her rebellious daughter who has a penchant for escaping Secret Service’s clutches to party and drink at D.C. bars.

“G20,” directed by Patricia Riggen, ultimately leaves the viewer with more questions than answers despite its predictability. There are too many loose ends, stories presented at the beginning of the film are never addressed and some of the supporting characters’ fates are left unanswered.

The terrorists’ motives aren’t exactly clear, either. Do they want to destabilize centralized global financial markets and usher in the age of cryptocurrency using AI deep fakes? Sure, but then there are random mentions of PTSD from war, grief, greed, a quip echoing nationalistic MAGA doctrine and female jealousy sprinkled in as motives for terrorism as well. Which one is it? Is it all the above? The film would’ve been stronger if one unified reason was selected instead of many disparate ones that say too much and not enough.

While the film has its weaknesses there are moments of levity interspersed throughout the action. There’s a scene of poised and well-heeled world leaders falling down the hotel’s laundry chute to escape from unhinged cryptocurrency bros with AK47s and grenades. The oafish UK prime minister and Elena, the director of the International Monetary Fund (played by “White Lotus” season two breakout star Sabrina Impacciatore) have their own satisfying high-speed chase in an armed luxury car trying to dodge missiles and gunfire and head to safety.

The action sequences and fight scenes keep viewers hooked throughout the film despite the script’s subpar writing. “G20” isn’t a serious film and it doesn’t try to be except when it overtly expresses the cultural importance of having a female African American president. Yes, it is amazing that 100 years ago women couldn’t vote and now a woman president is flying in Air Force One. Perhaps these scenes feel less powerful and more like a twist of the knife because this could have been our collective reality. Instead, it’s a pipe dream scenario for now.

Nevertheless, there is a bit of catharsis watching Viola Davis kick butt and save the world from crypto terrorists. It may not happen now, but until then “G20” will have to suffice.