ElMaruecan82
Ivan Reitman's "Dave" is reminiscent of the old-school charm of Capra classics, but there's also something of the Jewish Barber from "The Great Dictator" in Dave Kovic, a humble and gentle self-made man coerced into impersonating the President of the United States, victim of a stroke. He doesn't see himself as a leader, yet his earnest and powerful messages generate such genuinely enthusiastic cheers from people that you wonder who's the real fraud.I'm naturally not comparing President Bill Mitchell to Adenoid Hynkel, but the same defiance towards men of power is expressed through a seemingly gentle script that doesn't lack sharpness. Neither did Capra movies and just like all these "Mr. Smith" and "Meet John Doe", "Dave" explores the potential efficiency of a man from the people as a charismatic figure, rather than exploits a comical gimmick. The film also features Kevin Kline in one of the best performances of his career, playing the likable Dave; hired to replace the not-so likable Mitchell. Naturally, Kline plays both characters and deserves twice more praise for his acting.It's all in the mimics, speech mannerisms, confidence not just oozing from the body but the eye language too. In the pivotal scene where the somewhat arrogant President meets his lookalike for the first (and last) time, the interaction is nothing but juxtaposition of close-ups and in each one, you can tell who's who. Same haircut, same glasses, but Dave always lets a little smirk slip in his face and an innocent look that is totally contrasting with the cocky counterpart. We believe these two men are different despite their resemblance and this is crucial for the suspension of disbelief.Gary Ross was Oscar-nominated for the script and deservedly so, he masters his set-ups with the same delicacy the White House cook probably handles his mimosa eggs. And all the little contrivances that could have made the plot implausible are thoughtfully dodged. For instance, the First Lady, played with firm confidence by Sigourney Weaver, could have spotted very easily that he's not her husband. There's even a scene where she confronts him in the shower and Dave is afraid to turn, I was wondering whether it was out of shame or because he wasn't sure President Mitchell had a similarly hairy chest. But the script avoids these complexities by choosing to show a couple in the midst of a marital crisis, Helen strongly disapproves her husband's infidelity (in fact, she hates him) and they're only seen together during official ceremonies. We knew Presidents were womanizers but the unintentional foreshadowing of the Monica-Gate gave a nice, extra, prophetic taste to the film. And it even works as a set-up, because this is exactly why Mitchell needs his lookalike, to have a rendezvous with one of his young secretaries, played by Laura Linney. And after what was a delightful night, he ends up in a coma that extends Dave's contract. And this is where it gets tricky, the White House Chief of Staff Bob Alexander sees there an opportunity to frame honest Vice President (Ben Kingsley) by mixing him with a Saving & Loans scandal, with the help of Communication Manager (Kevin Dunn) so he can replace the VP and ultimately become President after the death of Mitchell, which is only a question of time. Dave becomes the puppet of a scheme perfectly oiled by an intimidating mastermind played by a Frank Langella, as cunning as ever. Kevin Judd's character is more ambiguous, he sides with Alexander but he finds something fresh and genuinely appealing in Dave.And so do we. This Capraesque hero does hit a sensitive chord, as a man who doesn't belong to his world but that's probably his best quality. He visits the home shelters; he talks to the kids, interacts with the workers, speaks with journalists and people with the every-man's words and even manages to cut 650 Millions of the federal budget to finance the building of new home shelters, with the help of his accountant (Charles Grodin). And his popularity doesn't only grow within the American people but the First Lady, who was intelligent enough to lure him into a revelation, starts to see in this fake husband the husband she really needed.Yes, this is all a fable, subtly tainted with romantic undertones, but that's the power of "Dave", it asks this question: can someone be a good guy and become a President? We're inclined to say 'yes' because no one wants to have a bad guy, like Bob Alexander, as a President, but the fact is Mitchell was elected and he wasn't a model: he cheated on his wife, he cheated the system and he was just a puppet. Dave literally redeemed him by taking the wrong decisions from Mitchell's perspective but the right ones for America. Still, there's no way a lamb like Dave, a nice person, would've swum over such a lake of sharks to become a President.Two days ago, Donald Trump became the 45th President of United States and although I'm not among those who predict the Apocalypse just because he's the President, I'm not sure either that's what the country needs, but a man like Dave Kovic would easily be branded as weak and liable and destroyed by Trump's populist rhetoric, or the elitist intelligentsia that supports the other party. See, it's weird how the 90's were still innocent by today's standards, but that was before politics would depend on Internet and social networks to touch the people, today's battles are nasty, ugly, and people don't vote for the best candidate but the perhaps least loathsome, the lesser of the two evils or the better communicator.Now, movies like "Dave", "Wag the Dog" or "The American President" would feel totally unrealistic today, but at least they remind us that the 90's was quite a decade for President- themed films, charming, fun, witty and satirical enough to stand the test of time.
Micke Karlsson
A sweet, funny movie (the kind Douglas Adams would call "mostly harmless"), with a somewhat outlandish plot, that I'm sure is probably not all that far removed from reality - given the circumstances. Definitely one of Kevin Klines best. Sigourney Weaver isn't given much of a chance, what with her role being the lesser of the couple in focus, but she does do well with her part. For obvious reasons 'Dave' gets somewhat political, but all in all it seem to never actually pick sides, not to any greater extent anyway. Instead it rather seem to suggest that bureaucracy in general is an obstacle, a hindrance to really getting something done. Charles Grodin, in a smaller part, does what Charles Grodin always does best - shows up every now and then and brings the Funny.
Spikeopath
Dave is directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Gary Ross. It stars Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames, Ben Kingsley, Tom Dugan, Charles Grodin and Laura Linney. Music is by James Newton Howard and cinematography by Adam Greenberg.Dave Kovic (Kline) is an ordinary Joe type of guy who just happens to look like the current president of the U.S.A (also played by Kline). In fact he makes a little extra cash on the side of his Temp Agency business by impersonating the president at openings and such. When president Mitchell suffers a stroke, the White House Chief of Staff Bob Alexander (Langella) instills Dave as the president so as to feather his own ambitions to become President...It's actually a joy in this day and age to go back and visit a comedy like Dave, for it proves to be refreshingly simple. It's a case of being honest comedy that is well written, a story that in spite of the undoubted preposterousness of plotting, carries you along by the sheer willingness to put a smile on your face. True, clichés are rife, but it isn't fishing in the toilet bowl for its laughs, or beating you over the head with raucous shouty antics so beloved by the MTV generation.A great cast is assembled for the fun, led superbly by the talented Kline in a role that so easily could have been over done in a lesser comic actor's hands. Helps as well that Kline can do good drama, so when the film inevitably turns into serious mode, and politico posturing gets a caustic once over, the transition is handled expertly. Weaver is pure charm, finding great chemistry with Kline, Langella wonderfully stomps around in chief villain mode, Dunn and Rhames score high and Grodin as usual owns the brief scenes he is in. While an Oliver Stone cameo scene is sheer brilliance.There is no pushing the boundaries of comedy here, and it wasn't trying to outsmart the 1990s cinema goer, it's simplicity supreme and as honest as the day is long. Which quite frankly is sometimes all you need in this big hurry up world of today. 8/10
secondtake
Dave (1993)A hilarious wishful movie about what we really want our president to be. Kevin Kline is perfect in the role--both roles--a little goofy but totally believable. The rest of the cast doesn't much matter. They are decent if never amazing. It's a lightweight movie and to demand much beyond the gags and feel good qualities isn't fair to it.Does it hold up twenty years after it was made? Oddly, yes. You might not even notice it's a bit outdated on the fringes. Politics in some ways has not changed a bit. And the idea of body doubles for the U.S. President is still in currency (see "Vantage Point" for starters). Of course the notion of a secretive government that might pull of a huge scam isn't far-fetched at all (except of course that you hope it actually is far-fetched outside of Hollywood--see "Wag the Dog" for starters).There is also the use of lots of real people to bolster the idea that it's real, or could be real. Some are identified (senators and other celebrities from the era) so if you don't recognize them you should at least trust that these people are not actors. But there are a number (like 20 or 30) of other "real" people playing themselves, including Oliver Stone. In case you don't know him, Stone is being interviewed on Larry King Live (with the real Larry King) and he says that they've studied photos of the "new" president and that it's a conspiracy. This is really one of the many little hilarious lines because Stone, of course, is famous for hatching or nurturing conspiracy theories for his movies. His "JFK" came out just two years earlier.The other fun one most people will miss (and this dates me) is running into an unidentified Tip O'Neill on the streets. He was the real speaker of the house, and it's a great little three seconds. He dies the following year.Okay, the movie isn't brilliant. But it never gets stale, and it's well made enough to survive even a curmudgeon without popcorn. It'll make you laugh.
