G20 (2025) Review & Summary
With already being an EGOT, it seems Viola Davis’ next goal is to become one of the biggest names in the action genre.
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“G20” Film Details
“G20” Film Details
- Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 48 Minutes
- Released On: Prime Video (Public Release Date: April 10, 2025)
- Director(s): Patricia Riggen
- Writer(s): Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, Logan Miller, Noah Miller
- Based on Work By: Logan Miller, Noah Miller
- Genre(s): Action, Thriller
- Rating: Rated R
- Distributor: Prime Video
Summary
President Danielle “Danny” Sutton is a war hero whose current goal is to get the G20 to agree to the “Together Plan,” which is supposed to benefit farmers of the third world with money needed. From the start, President Sutton is warned Britain and the IMF will be tough to win over, but with a man named Rutledge holding the G20 hostage, this provides an opportunity. For as President Sutton’s right hand, Ageny Manny Ruiz, helps her escape, she is given the opportunity to prove that the picture that got her the presidency wasn’t just a well-timed shot, but only a taste of what she is capable of as a world leader.
Cast and Characters
President Danielle “Danny” Sutton (Viola Davis)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: An army veteran, whose fame was bolstered by a well time photo of her getting a child from a war zone in Fallujah, it isn’t 100% clear whether President Sutton longed to run for the White House. However, with the job, it seems she seeks to do good and while she didn’t desire to heavily lean on her military experience to become president, she will if she wants to stay it.
Rutledge (Antony Starr)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: A veteran of the Australian military, Rutledge paints himself as an outsider, the voice of the everyman, and unlike President Sutton, he doesn’t believe he got a war hero’s welcome. So, both because of her trying to convince the world to invest in farmers in Africa, and personal matters, he seeks to take the G20 down and use deep fakes to make them appear as he sees them.
Agent Manny Ruiz (Ramón Rodríguez)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Agent Ruiz is a former marine, now part of President Sutton’s security detail, and often her sparring partner so she can stay sharp. Though, at times, with the chemistry they have, you’d think they were related or could have dated.
Serena Sutton (Marsai Martin)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: With being months, if not weeks from turning 18, Serena being unable to party, live her life, come of age like others has been a major point of contention between her and her mom. But, with tech knowledge and the ability to sleuth by the Secret Service, it is clear Serena has a career ahead of her to keep her mother up at night, just as much as when Serena sneaks out.
Other Noteworthy Information
Why Is G20 Rated R?
Why Is “G20” Rated R?
- Dialog:
- Cursing: Occasional
- Discriminatory Language: No
- Innuendo: None
- Suicide Mentions: No
- Violence:
- Gun Violence: Heavy
- Violence Against Animals: No
- Violence Against Children: No
- Domestic Violence: No
- Gore/ Blood: Moderate
- Body Horror: No
- Notable Violence: Torture, Fight Scenes
- Sexual Content:
- Nudity: None
- Sexual Situations: None
- Sexual Violence: None
- Miscellaneous:
- Drinking: Yes
- Drug Use: No
- Vomiting: No
- Smoking: No
Links
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- Official Site Link
Review and Commentary
Highlight(s)
Taking What Was Shown In The Woman King And Continuing To Show Out [86/100]
Viola Davis is a beast. I know a stunt person was likely used for certain aspects, but there still is a sense of pain, intensity, and weariness that shows Viola Davis did something. I would submit that she elevates “G20” far beyond expectations as President Sutton. Between presenting herself as a veteran and the trials and tribulations of politics with uneasy allies and pending backstabbing, you see it all in the performance.
Then add in they not only made President Sutton a veteran and leader of the free world, but also a wife and mother to too? It’s like Davis got the type of character that has depth she is used to, put into an action movie formula, and she got to do everything and more she wanted and needed to do with President Sutton.
Serena and President Sutton’s Relationship [83/100]
If I may, though, it is worth putting a notable spotlight on Serena and President Sutton’s relationship. While President Sutton’s son is forgettable and her marriage barely worth mentioning, Serena is different. As a rebel of sorts and some kind of tech whiz, Marsai Martin is allowed to deliver a character worth mentioning.
Now, does she go toe to toe with Davis in such a way that makes her seem like she is poised to be the next generation of actors in her caliber? No. However, you know, in movies like this, kids and spouses are liabilities. I’d submit, despite how much conflict is initially in their relationship, enough is done to build up Serena as a individual, and as a daughter, to make you care whether she lives or dies and get you in your feelings as she sometimes watches her mom put her life on the line for not only her safety, but everyone else’s.
Agent Ruiz and President Sutton’s Chemistry [84/100]
President Sutton may have been married to Anthony Anderson’s character, but the chemistry and viable relationship of the movie was the one she had with Agent Ruiz. Beyond having each other’s backs once Rutledge took over the G20 summit, there is something undeniable about their banter, even when they were sparring at the White House.
It all leads you to hope that, as Viola Davis continues to explore life outside of dramatic roles, she finds herself in a nice rom-com with Ramon Rodriguez.
Low Point(s)
Most Stand In Davis’ Shadow [65/100]
One of the major issues with “G20” is that it is heavily reliant on Davis to elevate it. Because of this, while she gets to shine, most get eclipsed or feel like they need her for a crutch. Perhaps where this shows the most is in Antony Starr as Rutledge.
While there is the need for meek applause for not making him a Russian villain, this doesn’t keep him from feeling generic, forgettable, and his casting feeling like its purely about synergy, since his role as Homelander on “The Boys” is one of Prime Video’s flagship programs. For when Starr is going toe to toe with Davis, he doesn’t’ come off formidable or notable. He is just as much an obstacle as a henchman with no name, whether they are trading barbs in dialog or facing off.
And with lacking that oomph needed, it brings “G20” down a bit as you increasingly are forced to admit that this movie may only be as good as it is because of what Davis’ brings, and not enough was done to make sure everyone else was either cast or written to be equal.
Overall
Our Rating (79/100): Mixed (Divisive)
Ultimately, “G20” is a starring vehicle for Viola Davis, and it’s clear that no one else is positioned to garner praise without it being tied to how well they play off her. As seen with Antony Starr, some—like Marsai Martin and Ramón Rodríguez—benefit from sharing scenes with Davis, gaining gravitas through proximity. However, others fade into the background, reduced to the level of the many interchangeable men President Sutton must navigate to save her family and fellow world leaders.
Hence, the mixed label. If you’re a fan of Viola Davis, “G20” will feel like a deliberate step toward solidifying her as not just a dramatic powerhouse but an action icon. But if you’re not already taken with her, the film may feel hollow—relying so heavily on her presence and talent that the supporting cast, particularly the antagonists, become a liability rather than a complement.
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