Dave (1993)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writer (WGA):

Gary Ross (written by)

Release Date:

7 May 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

In a country where anybody can become President, anybody just did

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

First Lady | Stroke | Chief Of Staff | Sex | U.S. President

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Kevin Kline	...	Dave Kovic / Bill Mitchell
Sigourney Weaver	...	Ellen Mitchell
Frank Langella	...	Bob Alexander
Kevin Dunn	...	Alan Reed
Ving Rhames	...	Duane Stevenson
Ben Kingsley	...	Vice-President Nance
Charles Grodin	...	Murray Blum
Faith Prince	...	Alice
Laura Linney	...	Randi
Bonnie Hunt	...	White House Tour Guide
Parley Baer	...	Senate Majority Leader
Stefan Gierasch	...	House Majority Leader
Anna Deavere Smith	...	Mrs. Travis
Charles Hallahan	...	Policeman
Tom Dugan	...	Jerry

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Italy:T | Norway:11 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Donner/Shuler-Donner Productions

Trivia:

In one of the press conferences, there's a Clamp Cable Network camera from Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), which starred Kevin Kline's wife, Phoebe Cates.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Dave is taken from the Capitol to the hospital he is taken to the Bethesda Naval Center in Bethesda, MD (based on the visual of that facility). This clearly is not the closest trauma hospital to the Capitol and would not be where the President would have been taken.

Quotes:

White House Tour Guide: And we're walking, and we're walking, and we're stopping.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jiminy Glick in Lalawood (2004)

Soundtrack:

Don't

A "double" charmer

I've recently had the opportunity of viewing "Dave" and thoroughly enjoyed it. As did the whole family. Three of my grandchildren watched it and I didn't have to explain a thing. No sex (well none worth worrying about), no violence, and not too taxing on the brain, a wonderful tonic.

Pre 9/11 it's true, and all to be taken with a pinch of salt, but after all that's gone on in the White House over the years, I found it not totally implausible. Fact is stranger than fiction in that place.

The movie itself was cleverly crafted and didn't get over-bogged down with mush. The multi-talented Kevin Kline was excellent in the "double" role, Sigourney Weaver enchanting as the First Lady, Ben Kingsley reliable as ever as the Vice-President, but it was Frank Langella as the WH Chief of Staff who stole the show. He was superb.

To those who may say that "Dave" doesn't give a true reflection on American politics or make a political statement, I would agree with them, but then it surely didn't mean to. Its just a charming little comedy and/or love story that's easy on mind and eye, and for what its worth I thought it was great...so there!