Directed By: Barry Levinson(Envy, Bandits, Wag the Dog, Good Morning Vietnam)
Starring:
Robin Williams as Tom Dobbs
Christopher Walken as Jack Menken
Laura Linney as Eleanor Green
Jeff Goldblum as Alan Stewart
MAIN PLOT:
Tom Dobbs(Robbie Williams) is the popular host of a comic political talk show. During one of his shows he makes a remark that leads someone in the audience say to suggest that he run for President. At first he laughs it off, but about a million emails and numerous phone calls later he decides to do so. Surprisingly enough, he wins. SUB PLOT: Eleanor(Laura Linney) works for Delacroy - a voting machine company.
Their voting machine is to be used across America by voters during the presidential election. Not long before the election, Elanor notices an error in the voting system, and brings it to the CEO’s notice. Her plea falls on(Alan Stewart’s) deaf ears. Eleanor considers revealing the error in public, but is attacked(apparently by Delacroy agents) and is injected with drugs. Obviously, her behavior at work and otherwise is erratic and she is hospitalized for drug overdose and loses her job. As a desperate attempt to do the right thing, she crashes into Tom Dobbs’ victory party and obtains Dobbs’ number, but does not call him.
When Dobbs calls Delacroy trying to get in touch with the lady, the head of the company is alarmed and doubles his efforts to "silence" Eleanor. Amidst all the drama, Eleanor manages to tell Dobbs that his election as President of the United States was a mistake. The heartbroken Dobbs announces the truth to the public. Kellogg wins another term and Dobbs marries Eleanor.
*What I liked about the movie:
The tongue-in-cheek comments about the state of the country’s security. The political humor of the film was both funny and on-target.
"The Perception of legitimacy is more important than legitimacy" - Alan Stewart(CEO of Delacroy) tells Eleanor.
"You’re voting for change for the sake of change" - Tom Dobbs to his audience
*What I didn’t like so much:
The love story aspect between Williams and Linney was so not required!
Williams’ rants contain innumerable flippant and crude references to sex. He also includes a number of rude double entendres and physical gestures(grabbing breasts, pumping hips and grabbing crotches).
It is fun for a while, but then you start to get tired coz the jokes don’t seem so original after all.
*THE VERDICT:
Though the thrill factor isn’t too impressive, and may strike some of you as rather unnecessary, watch it, by all means! A refreshing take on politics by a guy with the cleanest mind and the dirtiest mouth.