This Election Day, Vote For "Dave"

Dave (1993)

Rated PG-13

Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Ving Rhames, Frank Langella, Ben Kingsley,

Directed by Ivan Reitman

The Story:

President Bill Mitchell (Kline) brings in look-alike Dave (Kline), a temp-hire expert to fill in for him during an official function. However, when the real President suffers a stroke in the midst of an affair, Dave is thrust into the position full-time while the Chief of Staff (Langella) figures out what to do. Only a few know the true identity, including a very loyal Secret Service Agent (Rhames). But while it's one thing to fool the public at a one-time function, how do you fool the First Lady (Weaver) and Vice President (Kingsley) among others?

Ivan Reitman directs another light, fun comedy with a bit of a political bite under the surface.

Kline gets to shine as the novice political figurehead who takes his patriotic duty as President very seriously. However, he has a heart of gold, not a politician's heart, so he makes some changes along the way.

This draws suspicion from some, including his "wife".

As Dave continues to prove a popular President, more so than the man he is replacing, the Chief of Staff sees his chance to move into the big chair.

The cast is exceptional from top to bottom, and the humor and politics are as fresh and fun now as they were over 20 years ago.

Regardless of who you choose at the polls today, this movie is a winner!


Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it, and while I don't watch it nearly as often as I'd like, this is a charming movie that is really fun to watch, especially during the political season.  Then I can sigh, and wish that Dave was the real deal.

Initiate Self Destruct Sequence... "Robot and Frank"

You never know when, or where,  you'll find a friend...

The Story:

Sometime in the future, a former thief (Frank Langella) is getting older, and more forgetful.  His son (James Marsden) is getting tired of coming out to take care of him, so he buys a robot (Peter Sarsgaard) to tend to his dad and take care of the house.  Initially  resentful and irritated, Frank comes alive when the robot inspires him to dust off his criminal ways.



For the majority of this film, it is actually quite fun and interesting.  Frank and the robot spar verbally with each other.  Okay, Frank spars, the robot just takes it and does his job.


It turns out that the thing he didn't want, a robotic companion, makes Frank feel more alive than he has in ages.  He flirts with the town librarian (Susan Sarandon) and centers his first heist around something he thinks she'll enjoy.


Then Frank's daughter (Liv Tyler) shows up... and the movie about comes undone with her pettiness about doing what she thinks is right and not listening to her father.

It gets old after about a minute.

: /

The movie picks up steam again as Frank works to stay one step ahead of the law, however,  this movie needed about 5 minutes shaved off of it.

The ending.

The movie should have ended with the hug.

That simple scene said it all.

Instead, it went on longer, driving home the realization of how lonely Frank really was sink in, and ruin an otherwise pretty pleasant experience.


So if you do watch it, which I highly encourage, feel free to press stop at the hug.  You'll know it when you see it.

It dropped this film from a B+ to...

Final Grade: B-

Would I Own It: No, it was cute once, but I don't want to see the whiny daughter or the sad ending again.