Synopsis
To avoid a potentially explosive scandal when the U.S. President goes into a coma, an affable temp agency owner with an uncanny resemblance is put in his place.
Pinbot
I have a hankering for a feelgood comedy every so often and this one fits the bill perfectly.
The whole idea of a lookalike assuming the place of the president is of course silly, but it is after all, only a movie. Plus having the President of the US actually wanting to do good and make the world a better place is very refreshing in the dark timeline we seem to be living through at the moment.
The leads are on top form here and have a genuine onscreen chemistry. Kline does amazingly well being essentially two characters – often one impersonating the other. Weaver is nicely salty early in the film, but her transition to a more warm and caring sharing First Lady is nicely done and pretty seamless. However, I think Frank Langella steals the show as Bob Alexander, the manipulative and short-fused Chief of Staff. Let’s face it, he is exactly what we all think politicians are like behind closed doors.
In these more cynical times, I doubt this would have been made in its current form. It is too naive, too subtle. It would have been a painfully on-the-nose satire or god help us, an agonising Adam Sandler style fish out of water farce. Thankfully however, it is a brilliantly entertaining, rather understated comedy with a nice undertone of darkness. Dave would get my vote.
A sweater vest and tie out of ten
Hipster Ben
A charming Kevin Kline playing his part fantastically as the stand in US president. Some strong supporting roles with Sigourney making a good first lady, who actually falls for Dave and his do good ways. Certainly far fetched in ideas but a heart warming and feel good film
Rating: 8/10
Randar
This was, unsurprisingly, my nomination. It’s one of my all-time favourites and is already the recipient of a highly favourable review at Red Parsley. I had actually watched it for what must be the billionth time shortly before we chose films for this round of FF but it’s never a hardship to watch what has become one of my ‘default films’ (if I can’t decide what to watch, I just watch this!). It might be a bit corny and depressingly unrealistic (in that our American friends will likely never get a president this nice) but it’s so full of memorable moments and irresistible charm that it really doesn’t matter. Kevin Kline is the star of the show, of course. He is superb as both President Mitchell and his naively optimistic lookalike Dave Kovic, but my focus was on Weaver for this viewing and she comes out brightly as well. She doesn’t get a huge amount to do but she has a big presence whenever she’s on screen as the bitter First Lady who so despises her sleazy husband but is gradually thawed by Dave’s exuberance, and the film wouldn’t be the same without her. I’m sure few love this film as much as me but I can honestly say I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t at least like it. Well, not until killjoy Chip here cast his ice-cold eyes of judgement over it, obviously…
Rating: 9/10
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