A review of the movie "Dave"

Ever notice how Hollywood seems to put out similar movies at the same time? Antz and Bug's Life, Dante's Peak and Volcano, Saving Private Ryan and Thin Red Line, Dave and The American President.

Today I will focus on Dave (Starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver) while comparing it to a similar movie that was released around the same time: on The American President (Starring Michael Douglas and Annette Bening).

Dave is about a story about a common man who has greatness thrust upon him! A look-alike (Dave (Kline)) is hired by an unethical Secretary of State to impersonate the president (Kline) who has suffered a stroke rendering him a vegetable. The President wasn't very loved by any (including the first lady) but Dave begins to do good for the country.

Most presidential movies like to make political statements regarding the writer's/director's/producer's favorite party. Dave wisely avoids that. They even managed to avoid it in regard to Dave's pet platform issue, jobs, which both parties clearly claim as their own. They do not mention the affiliation of the president and manage to tell a good story without stumping for the Dems or the GOP. Well done! The American President did not see the wisdom of this stance (or lack there of). The pet platform of the Democratic President (Douglas) was the environment. Thus weakening the rest of the story which was the potential love between the President and the environmental lobbyist (I won't go into the ethics of a widowed president sleeping with a lobbyist.)

So, while in the White House Dave starts to fall for the first lady (who is still married because her husband is on life support) and she for him. However, like responsible adults, they hold off on any semblance of a relationship while the president still lives! Bully for them! The American President sleeps with the lobbyist in the White House. To make matters worse, his 12 year old daughter is sleeping down the hall. Later in the movie (after he's been caught in this relationship) he basically tells the American people to shove it. They are both adults and it's their choice what they want to do. The movie makers showcased this moment as his character's triumphant action!

While neither has stellar acting, one movie shines above the other. The message of Dave was that if you believe in something strong enough you should be willing to sacrifice either yourself, your pride, or your treasure, for that cause. Like The Patriot, the cause is greater than the individual. The message of The American President was that if it's what you wanna do, do it, and don't listen to what anyone else says! Like Gladiator, the individual was greater than the cause.

Dave is a great movie. The American President isn't worth the plastic the DVD is made of! And that's my movie opinion!