Year of Release: 1993
Director: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Ben Kingsley, Kevin Dunn, Laura Linney, Ving Rhames, Charles Grodin, Faith Prince, Bonnie Hunt, Parley Baer, Anna Deavere Smith, Charles Hallahan, Tom Dugan
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
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Synopsis and Review:
Following the success of "Kindergarten Cop", director Ivan Reitman returned with another well crafted, and far better received comedy, "Dave", written by Gary Ross (who had made a name for himself as the writer of Penny Marshall's "Big" and who would go on to be a director himself, with "Pleasantville" and "The Hunger Games" as two examples). The film follows the story of Dave Kovic, a Temp Agency operator, who looks exactly like the current President of the United States. The current President, Bill Mitchell, goes on his escapades, and when that happens, the Secret Service
hires Dave to stand in for him. When the President suffers a stroke while having sex with one of his aides, Dave finds himself
stuck in the role indefinitely (since the stroke causes the President to go into a coma). The Chief of
Staff, Bob Alexander, refuses to divulge the events, to avoid having the Vice-President taking over. He also plans to use Dave to elevate himself to the White
House, and generally manipulate the situations to his liking. However Dave becomes more and more comfortable in the position, realizing the good he can do, while also falling in love with the First Lady, who quickly realizes that Dave isn't her husband (whom she hated due to his infidelities).
"Dave" is a film that is not only indicative of a new political climate which started in 1993, but also a film that feels very much influenced by the classic works of Frank Capra (including "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town"). It's a film that embraces the idealistic side of an every day man, of a good man, who by extraordinary circumstances, finds himself as a President of a nation, and who while surrounded by moral turpitude, thrives to do better, not just for himself, but for everyone. It's also a love story, of two people meeting in somewhat strained circumstances, and who while not necessarily looking for love, find it by looking at each other for who they are, and not necessarily for what their standing in society is. Ivan Reitman manages to deftly and humorously illustrate Dave's progressive confidence and braveness, as he discovers his own strength, with Kevin Kline being fantastic in both roles. The supporting cast provides a variety of flavor including the always reliable and fantastic Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames, Ben Kingsley. The female cast is headed by the always superb Sigourney Weaver (who should probably be cast as President in a film of her own), with able support from the equally vastly talented Laura Linney, for whom "Dave" was her second feature film, not forgetting the always reliable Bonnie Hunt. The production team of this film is impeccable, including the score from James Newton Howard and the cinematography from Adam Greenberg. Worth watching.
"Dave" is a film that is not only indicative of a new political climate which started in 1993, but also a film that feels very much influenced by the classic works of Frank Capra (including "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" and "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town"). It's a film that embraces the idealistic side of an every day man, of a good man, who by extraordinary circumstances, finds himself as a President of a nation, and who while surrounded by moral turpitude, thrives to do better, not just for himself, but for everyone. It's also a love story, of two people meeting in somewhat strained circumstances, and who while not necessarily looking for love, find it by looking at each other for who they are, and not necessarily for what their standing in society is. Ivan Reitman manages to deftly and humorously illustrate Dave's progressive confidence and braveness, as he discovers his own strength, with Kevin Kline being fantastic in both roles. The supporting cast provides a variety of flavor including the always reliable and fantastic Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames, Ben Kingsley. The female cast is headed by the always superb Sigourney Weaver (who should probably be cast as President in a film of her own), with able support from the equally vastly talented Laura Linney, for whom "Dave" was her second feature film, not forgetting the always reliable Bonnie Hunt. The production team of this film is impeccable, including the score from James Newton Howard and the cinematography from Adam Greenberg. Worth watching.
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