Dave (1993)
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97% of critics liked it
(39 reviews) -
64% of users liked it
(41,277 ratings)
The ghost of Frank Capra must have smiled when he saw Dave, an amusing and effective update of one of Capra's favorite themes -- the scrupulously honest little guy who becomes a force for good against a corrupt system. Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline) runs an employment agency and seems to genuinely… More The ghost of Frank Capra must have smiled when he saw Dave, an amusing and effective update of one of Capra's favorite themes -- the scrupulously honest little guy who becomes a force for good against a corrupt system. Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline) runs an employment agency and seems to genuinely enjoy finding work for people who need it. He also bears a striking resemblance to the president of the United States, Bill Mitchell (also played by Kline) and occasionally gets work as a Bill Mitchell impersonator. One day, Dave gets a call from the Secret Service -- for security purposes, they want to hire him to act as a decoy for an upcoming appearance by the president. All goes well, but later that evening President Mitchell suffers a massive stroke while in bed with his mistress. Wanting to keep the matter a secret, two of the president's top advisors appeal to Dave to stand in as Bill Mitchell until he regains his health. One of the men behind this scheme, Bob Alexander (Frank Langella), hopes to use Mitchell's absence to promote his own right-wing political agenda, but after a few weeks "in office," Dave decides it's time to promote some changes of his own that will help increase employment and keep homeless shelters open. Dave also finds himself growing fond of Ellen Mitchell (Sigourney Weaver), the President's wife, while Ellen sees in Dave the idealism her husband left behind years ago. Dave features numerous cameo appearances by politicians, Washington insiders, and journalists; Oliver Stone also appears to explain a conspiracy theory regarding sudden changes in Bill Mitchell's behavior. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Ivan Reitman
- Written By
- Gary Ross
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
- In Theaters
- May 7, 1993 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros.
Critic Reviews
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
An overall mood of sweetness may help one to forgive the archaic and childish aspects of the would-be analysis, which splits everyone between angels and devils.
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Stephen Garrett, Time Out
A buoyant comedy in the Capra tradition.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
In spite of this sogginess, and despite a self-congratulatory, do-gooder streak that the film discovers within Dave, this comedy remains bright and buoyant much of the way through.
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Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
[Mixes] comedy and corn with surprising savvy.
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Brian Lowry, Variety
A delightful, buoyant new take on an old theme.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Kevin Kline
as Dave Kovic/Bill Mitchell
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Sigourney Weaver
as Ellen Mitchell
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Frank Langella
as Bob Alexander
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Kevin Dunn
as Alan Reed
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Ving Rhames
as Duane Stevenson
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Ben Kingsley
as Vice President Nance
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Charles Grodin
as Murray Blum
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Faith Prince
as Alice
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Parley Baer
as Senate Majority Leader
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Lexie D. Bigham
as White House Guard
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Frank Birney
as Director of OMB
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Dan Butler
as Reporter
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Paul Collins
as Secretary of Treasury
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Robin Gammell
as Postmaster General
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Stefan Gierasch
as House Majority Leader
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Wendy Gordon
as Announcer
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Charles Hallahan
as Policeman
-
Tom Harkin
as Himself
-
Heather Hewitt
as Judy
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Bonnie Hunt
as White House Tour Guide
-
Bernard Kalb
as Himself
-
Larry King
as Himself
-
Tom Kurlander
as Trauma Doctor
-
Jay Leno
as Himself
-
Laura Linney
as Randi
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Ralph Manza
as White House Barber
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Sarah Marshall
as Diane
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George Martin
as President's Physician
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Alba Oms
as Lola
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Catherine Reitman
as Girl at Durenberger's
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Jason Reitman
as Vice President's Son
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Stephen Root
as Don Durenberger
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Anna Deavere Smith
as Mrs. Travis
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Ben Stein
as Himself
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Nina Totenberg
as Herself
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Sander Vanocuer
as Himself
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Robert Walsh
as Speaker of the House
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Peter White
as Secretary of Commerce
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Steve Witting
as 1st Secret Service
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Geneviève Robert
as Vice-President's Wife
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Gary Ross
as 2nd Policeman
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
as Himself
- Paul Simon
-
Alan Simpson
as Himself
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Oliver Stone
as Himself
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Dawn Arnemann
as Mom at Durenberger's
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Tom Dugan
as Jerry
- Michael Chinich
- Bonnie Timmermann
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Kathleen Sullivan
as Herself
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Bonnie Bartlett
as Female Senator
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John McLaughlin
as Himself
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Richard Reeves
as Himself
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Aaron Michael Lacey
as Reporter
- Helen A. Thomas
-
Chris Matthews
as Himself
