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Parents' Guide to

Dave

By Maria Llull, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Uplifting political comedy combines romance and satire.

Movie PG-13 1993 110 minutes
Dave Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

Chris_Feher
Chris_Feher Adult
May 13, 2020
age 13+

An Intriguing Idea

Dave is a very good movie that explores a hypothetical way to deal with a president who is unfit to serve. The film is funny, entertaining, and satisfying at the end. The performances by the cast are quite good, and the plot is well written, more than what can be said about other political movies. However, I would disagree with CSM's age rating on this one due to the sexual content. I feel like even though there is no nudity shown, there is plenty of things that emphasize the 'act', the strongest of which is that the couple is clearly shown 'doing it', accompanied by the moans, facial expressions and movements. All of which is probably too inappropriate for kids as young as 11 and 12. However, I think any teen 13 or older could enjoy this movie just fine. I would highly recommend this movie!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

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 Mitchell was corrupt and nasty, with a well-crafted political facade, 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 Alexander as 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 scheme, and, with her help, Dave is able to set things right (and the two of them even find romance along the way).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (7 ):

This uplifting movie plays to the fantasy of the Everyman or Everywoman who thinks they could make a real difference in this country, if only they had the chance. It's a truly heartfelt film that manages to combine sweet romance with political satire. Older viewers will appreciate the subtle jabs at notable political figures, but you don't need to be familiar with '90s politics to enjoy the wit and warmth here. If you're looking for a funny, romantic take on politics, Dave is definitely worth a watch.

That said, Kline plays Dave with such simplicity that he brings to mind Wilbur Post from TV's Mr. Ed. And when Ben Kingsley, who plays Vice President Nance, shows up toward the end of the film, he adds a depth and presence that almost make him (or everyone else) appear to be in the wrong movie. And the politics represented in the movie can seem oversimplified. Everything works out very tidily, which leaves threads and nuances missing from the storyline. But, then again, that's sort of the point. The situation Dave gets himself into might not be realistic, but the idea of a political outsider shaking up Washington still resonates with today's viewers. Dave's whole message when he revises the budget is that some basic decency and common sense could go a long way in government.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what they'd do in Dave's situation. What would you do differently than the current president, and what would you do the same?

  • Who's your favorite president in history? Why? What do you think makes a strong leader?

  • Is Dave a role model? How do Dave and Ellen demonstrate compassion and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?

  • With elections and political news more visible than ever, what role do political scandals have in the election process? What are some of the ways that people hold their representatives accountable?

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