Things are heavy with this pandemic tightening it’s grip on our society. We need to lock down and socially isolate as much as ever if not more so. If you need a little reprieve from the heaviness that is our current existence, I have just the thing for you: The Mid 90’s Presidential Double Feature. And what pray tell is that you may ask? Well obviously I’m about to tell you, otherwise it would be a rather silly title for an article. This double feature comprises of two fun, lighthearted comedies centered around the man in the oval office; from a simpler, more optimistic time. We have Ivan Reitman’s Dave (1993) and Rob Reiner’s The American President (1995), which was also notably written by one Aaron Sorkin.
Our first feature in our Presidential double billing is Dave, which stars Kevin Kline in the titular role as a man who impersonates the President as a side gig in his off time, as well as President Bill Mitchell. The President’s staff retain Dave’s services when the President suffers a critical stroke, keeping up the illusion that the President is not incapacitated, all in a bid to maintain their grip over the power of the Oval Office. Sigourney Weaver plays First Lady Ellen Mitchell, who’s relationship to the President is barely one of co existence, they hate and basically ignore each other. She can’t help but notice a seismic shift in her supposed husband’s disposition and personality when Dave takes over, eventually figuring out what’s going on and a relationship blossoms between Ellen and Dave.
Kevin Kline is the ace up the movie’s sleeve, walking the tightrope and striking just the right tone and balance of comedy. His performance is very funny and charismatic, while also being earnest, grounded and bringing a level of honesty to the proceedings. He really sells Dave as just a good, hardworking, humble guy who really wants to do good for everyone around him. It would have been very easy for him to go too far into the comedic side of things and delve into the slapstick, but his deft touch keeps the movie moving along confidently. Kline also pulls off the role of President Bill Mitchell, a corrupt, dishonest and all around dislikeable character, which is quite a trick to pull off at the same time. Kline and Weaver have excellent chemistry and really sell the ludicrous idea that this woman could fall for and get involved with a man who is impersonating her husband, who also happens to be the leader of the free world. It’s a crazy premise for a movie, from a simpler, more optimistic time, but goddammit it’s fun and lighthearted, which is exactly what we need.
The second feature film in our Mid 90’s Presidential Double Feature is The American President. Michael Douglas stars as President Andrew Shepherd, who begins dating Sydney Ellen Wade, a lobbyist played by Annette Bening. President Shepherd’s staff comprises of A.J. played by Martin Sheen, Lewis, played by Michael J. Fox, and Robin, played by Anna Deavere Smith. The movie follows President Shepherd as he begins his relationship with Sydney, while dealing with official White House business and public perceptions with his staff, all the while still finding time to raise his teenage daughter.
Michael Douglas is in top form here, portraying President Shepherd as a very likeable, good natured, earnest and principled man. But the movie also kind of works as an ensemble piece, with a lot of interplay between the President and his staff, with Sheen, Fox and Smith really pulling off their own brand of intelligence, idealism and general likeability. The secret sauce in The American President is the Aaron Sorkin of it all. This movie has the Sorkin fingerprint in the core of it’s DNA, from it’s unabashed idealism, to the cadence, patter and intelligence of the dialogue. They digress into policies and public approval and whatnot, but not in a way that bogs the movie down, it’s easy enough to get the gist of what they’re talking about, and the upshot is really that these are the kind of people you want behind the wheel. The movie is also notable as almost an early form of perhaps the show Sorkin is best known for, the West Wing, which has very much the same optimism, idealism and sharp interplay between the President and his Staff. It’s also notable the Sheen get’s bumped up to the role of President for the West Wing, and Smith plays the National Security Advisor.
We all could use a little break from our current existential dread, so I invite you to travel back to a simpler more optimistic time, the mid 90’s. Let’s just take a few hours to hang out in the oval office with some smart, funny, charismatic, idealistic Presidents, even if they are fictional. We could use a double dose of the lighthearted, good natured comedy in Dave and The American President, and allow ourselves to believe maybe things can be alright again.