Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Ivan Reitman, Warner Bros, PG, 110 Minutes.
This charming comedy from Ivan Reitman the director of the ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise is an enjoyable and uplifting experience from start to finish about an ordinary guy who is reluctantly propelled into the role of President of the United States.
Kevin Kline (‘French Kiss’) portrays both the philandering President Bill Mitchell and Dave Kovic the caring employment agency employee engaged occasionally by the Secret Service to stand in for Mitchell due to his remarkable resemblance to the President.
As it turns out during one of his extra-marital affairs Mitchell suffers a severe stroke resulting in Dave being catapulted into the presidency by the manipulative Chief of Staff Bob Alexander (Frank Langella – ‘Frost/Nixon’) with similar ambitions of being President.
Much to Alexander’s annoyance Dave decides to take on his new role with considerable enthusiasm unaware of the real President’s condition being kept secret from everyone especially the First Lady-his estranged wife Ellen (Sigourney Weaver – ‘Alien’).
Dave’s changed demeanour towards Ellen convinces her that he is not the real Bill Mitchell having exposed the deception including the severity of her husband’s condition disclosed by the President’s Secret Service bodyguard Duane Stevenson (Ving Rhames – ‘Mission Impossible’).
After persuading Ellen to stay to support him in implementing certain changes particularly her homelessness initiative he then fires Alexander which makes him acknowledge that Dave is no longer his puppet and launches his bid for the presidency.
With the return of Vice President Nance (Ben Kingsley – ‘Gandhi’) from overseas and in an attempt to destroy Dave for his earlier action Alexander moves quickly to implicate Nance and Dave himself in a financial scandal of his own making.
Alexander’s accusations are however thwarted when Dave addresses a joint session of Congress revealing that Alexander was the mastermind behind the financial scandal and implicating the real President Mitchell prior to his death before nominating Nance as President.
Reitman’s entertaining political satire is based on Gary Ross’ well-written script and a refreshing storyline filled with many amusing scenes and one-liners.
The major highlight would have to be the pure chemistry between Kline and Weaver apart from their perfectly-pitched performances not to mention those of Langella and Rhames-especially the latter’s appearance in the concluding scene.
It is therefore not surprising that ‘Dave’ is considered one of the most popular movies of the 90’s.
Dave will be shown on Channel 7flix on SATURDAY 23 MAY at 8.30PM
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
