The American President

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Plot: What sounds like the high-concept romantic comedy pitch from hell--widower president falls for smart lobbyist while the world watches--is actually intelligent, charming, touching, and quite funny. Gra...( read more  )nted, it's wish fulfillment all the way (when was the last time you saw a president who was truly presidential?), but in the capable hands of writer Aaron Sorkin (TV's Sports Night) and director Rob Reiner, The American President is incredibly enjoyable entertainment with quite a few ideas about both romance and the government. Michael Douglas stars as the president, who after three years in office starts thinking about the possibility of dating. When he auspiciously encounters cutthroat environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), sparks begin to crackle and the two begin a tentative but heartfelt romance. Of course, his job gets in the way--their first kiss is interrupted by a Libyan bombing--but darn it if these two kids aren't going to try and make it work! However, they hadn't counted on the president's Republican antagonist (Richard Dreyfuss), who starts carping about family values. The predictable plot--Douglas finally goes to bat for his lady and his country--is leavened by Sorkin's wonderful, snappy dialogue and a light touch from the usually subtle-as-a-sledgehammer Reiner. Both manage to create a believable White House-office atmosphere (with a crack staff including Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Anna Deavere Smith, and Samantha Mathis) as well as a plausible and funny dating scenario. The true success of the movie, though, rides squarely on Douglas and Bening; this is unequivocally Douglas's best comedic performance (ergo his best performance, period) and Bening, usually such a good bad girl, takes a standard career-woman role and fleshes it out magnificently. You can see in an instant why Douglas would fall for her. One of the best unsung romantic comedies of the '90s. --Mark Englehart

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• 
  terris85017

  (1995 Director: Rob Reiner) NIce!! a little drippy--perhaps?? i lked it! Douglas seemed like almost Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter of course Edwards comes to mind now? NICE! I beileve in true love! My favoirite line in the move: "Because you said yes."

  

  Flixster - Share Movies

  posted 240 days ago
• 
  MoulinRougeFan

  one of my favorite love stories. i can watch this movie over and over again!

  posted 359 days ago
• 
  Raven09

  Simply: Michael Douglas and Annette Benning at their bests!!

  posted 381 days ago

• 
  Michael Douglas
• 
  Annette Bening
• 
  Martin Sheen
• 
  Michael J. Fox
• 
  Anna Deavere Smith
• 
  Samantha Mathis

• Rated: (PG-13)
• Directed by: Rob Reiner
• Genres: Romance, Drama, Comedy
• Released: November 17, 1995
• DVD Released: August 31, 1999

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