What sounds like a 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. Granted, it's wish fulfilment 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, TheAmerican 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 [show more]
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. Boy meets girl - and the press tracks their every move, rivals fire broadsides and a Presidency with a 63% popularity rating plunges to 41% in seven weeks. When you're the President, everyone knows where you live. Michael Douglas portrays the widower Chief Executive who falls for a lobbyist (Annette Bening), then free-falls in the polls in this winning romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner. Bustling staff members (Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, David Paymer, Anna Deavere Smith), a sneering opponent (Richard Dreyfuss), state dinners, formal protocol, informal moments, global crisis - all come into focus as Reiner and his stars explore the balance between private romance and public Presidency. Actors Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Richard Dreyfuss, Samantha Mathis & David Paymer Director Rob Reiner Certificate 15 years and over Year 1995 Screen Widescreen 2.35:1 Languages English ; German ; French ; Italian - Dolby Digital (5.1) Additional Languages Dolby (2.0) Stereo: Czech ; Dolby (1.0) Mono: Polish Subtitles English ; French ; German ; Dutch ; Portuguese ; Swedish ; Norwegian ; Finnish ; Danish Duration 1 hour and 49 minutes (approx)
Widowed US President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) is unwilling to jeopardise his high standing in the opinion polls by taking political risks. However, when he begins dating environmental lobbyist Sydney Wade (Annette Bening), his opponents use his personal life as a point of attack. Can the relationship survive, or will political expediency prevail? Rob Reiner ('When Harry Met Sally') directs this White House-set romantic comedy.
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