Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Annette Bening,Michael Douglas,Michael J. Fox,Martin Sheen
After watching The American President, I have to say that Aaron Sorkin is a genius. Sorkin, who also wrote such hits as A Few Good Men and the TV series The West Wing, is clearly one of the most talented screenwriters of the 90’s.
In The American President, he combines political drama with romantic comedy, and he pulls out all the stops. He shies away from nothing, tackling everything from gun control to the environment to the media’s portrayal of the President’s personal life, all while also portraying a witty and believable romance.
In one of the best romantic comedies of all time, Michael Douglas plays liberal president Andrew Shepherd. The movie explores what would happen if he was widowed, and started dating Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), an environmental lobbyist who works a little too close to him for comfort. The social and political faux pas that ensue make for a charming and hilarious film. Douglas and Bening have amazing chemistry together, but manage to avoid the usual saccharine-laden clichés of most romantic comedies. Instead, they portray a genuine relationship, which makes me smile and giggle every time I see this movie.
To further complicate things, President Shepherd, whose decisions are frequently questioned, is also dealing with an obnoxious, conservative senator (Richard Dreyfuss) who is trying to oust him from his job. He is such a moron that his entire campaign speech consists of, “My name is Bob Rumson, and I am running for President.” Throughout the film, Rumson forces Shepherd to continually question not only his political decisions, but the way he leads his personal life, all while digging up dirt on Sydney for the media to feast on. The problem is, President Shepherd is notorious for his inability to make definitive decisions. So while he is trying to figure out how to handle all of this, Rumson steps in and convinces the country that he is the only one who can provide genuine leadership. With a little help from his staff, Shepherd learns to have confidence in his decisions, and comes back at Rumson with, “My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I AM the President,” ending one of the best movie speeches with one of the best movie lines ever.
As in any romantic comedy, the movie would not be complete without a zany cast of supporting characters. President gets it just right, providing President Shepherd with a staff that provides the voices of reason in his life. Rounding out his staff are: Lewis Rothschild (Michael J. Fox), his domestic-policy advisor who finally convinces him to have more confidence in his decisions; A. J. MacInerney (Martin Sheen), his best friend and chief of staff who convinces him to go for it with Sydney; and Robin McCall (Anna Deveare Smith) his savvy press secretary. Additionally, Shawna Waldron plays his twelve-year-old daughter, Lucy, who not surprisingly, is very down to earth and intelligent. She gives him probably his most valuable advice: Don’t be a dork, and always compliment a girl’s shoes. He uses this advice to his advantage, and at the end, we’re left with a witty, intelligent and funny movie that will definitely make you smile, at least for the rest of the day.
