Dave (PG-13, 1998)

In DAVE, Kevin Kline stars in dual roles as President Bill Mitchell and a temp agency owner named Dave Kovic. When the President has a massive stroke that leaves him in a vegetative state, his Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander (Frank Langella), convinces Dave to play the part. Whereas President Bill Mitchell was corrupt and nasty with a well-crafted political façade, Dave genuinely cares and wants to help people. This leads him to lock horns with Alexander, whose real agenda is to implicate the Vice President in a scandal and have "President Dave" nominate him the new VP just before pretending to have a second, fatal stroke. Ellen Mitchell (Sigourney Weaver) is the estranged First Lady who enjoys using her role to be of service to the needy, despite the lack of love in her marriage. She eventually catches on to the ruse and with her help, Dave is able to set things right and the two of them find romance along the way.

Dave is a cute movie, but everything works out very tidily, which leaves threads and nuances missing from the storyline. The characters are sometimes Disney-like in their simplicity, though not as much fun. In fact, the talented Kevin Kline plays Dave with such simplicity that he brings to mind Wilbur Post from TV's Mr. Ed. When Ben Kingsley, who plays Vice President Nance, shows up toward the end of the film, he adds a depth and presence that make him (or everyone else) appear to be in the wrong movie.

Mild critiques aside, if you're looking for an enjoyable, easy-to-watch movie, Dave is worth your time. It's uplifting and plays to the fantasy of the everyman and everywoman who thinks they could make a real difference in this country if only they had the chance.

Studio: Warner Home Video
Director: Ivan Reitman
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Charles Grodin, Frank Langella, Kevin Kline, Laura Linney, Sigourney Weaver, Ving Rhames
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 110 minutes
Theatrical release: April 28, 1998
DVD release: April 28, 1998
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: mild swearing and some nudity