Dave (1993)

Directed by Ivan Reitman. Starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames, Charles Grodin, Faith Prince, Ben Kingsley, Tom Dugan, Laura Linney. [PG]

After the U.S. President (Kline) falls into a coma after a stroke, the scheming Chief of Staff (Langella) and Communications Director (Dunn) conspire to seize power, but in the meantime, they need to keep the charade going, so they convince a lookalike (and professional impersonator) to pretend to be the Commander in Chief for several weeks. Here’s the “shocker”: the decent-guy stand-in, Dave Kovic (also played by Kline), brings charisma and humanity to the role of a lifetime, and the prez becomes as popular as ever, even to estranged First Lady Weaver. Pleasant comedy, written by Gary Ross, is feather-light as political satire but winning as a breezy if immensely far-fetched lark. Kline is likable, he shares nice chemistry with Weaver, and the solid supporting cast includes Charles Grodin as Dave’s neurotic accountant friend and Ving Rhames as a deadpan Secret Service agent who’s in on the scheme. Frank Capra would be proud. Stephen Root, Bonnie Hunt, and director Ivan Reitman’s son, Jason, all make brief appearances, alongside a raft of cameos from the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oliver Stone to politicians Tom Harkin and “Tip” O’Neill.

70/100