DICK (1999)

Directed By: Andrew Flemming Written By: Andrew Flemming & Sheryl Longin Cinematography By: Alexander Gruszynski Editor: Mia Goldman Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Dan Hedaya, Ana Gasteyer, Will Ferrell, Bruce McCulloch, Teri Garr, Dave Foley, Jim Bruer, Harry Shearer, Saul Rubinek, Devon Gummersall, Ted McGinley, Ryan Reynolds, French Stewart Comedy about two high school girls who wander off during a class trip to the White House and meet President Richard Nixon. They become the official dog walkers for Nixon's dog Checkers, and become his secret advisors during the Watergate scandal. Slightly smarter then your usual teenage comedy. With a bit of history that is known then tweaked to make fun a little and up those involved. It’s a comedic character actor all star movie surprised the film got such a good cast for what seems like a one joke movie. The film tries to make more of itself and be more of a full work, but while humorous it really works as a one joke premise with some funny scenes. It’s funnier if you actually know what really happened when the events of the film really happened. When the film came out it was marketed as more of a teen comedy and some scenes adhere to that premise. Luckily most of the actors involved don’t go for imitation so much and make the real life characters they play their own. As much as they can since though there is a ensemble it’s clear who the stars and where the focus of the film will be. Dan Heday is hilarious and a bit heartbreaking as Richard Nixon. I was excited to see this movie when it was coming out. It’s directed by Andrew Femming who I was a fan of based on the film THE CRAFT a similar yet better made guilty pleasure. I like seeing KIDS IN THE HALL members Bruce McCullough and Dave Foley on the screen though they share no scenes together. Devon Gummersall has a supporting role and he played my favorite character on the show MY SO CALLED LIFE and in this film as the stoner. Plus one of the stars of the film Michelle Williams who I have always been a fan of from DAWSON’S CREEK. A show I actually wrote a spec script for. Seeing her on the show ialways know she was better then the material. She was more then a pretty face. Even the character she played on the show had a tragic Tennesse Williams quality past and seemed more gritty then the commercial performances then the rest of the cast. I am glad to see her hitting such great heights now. The highlights of the film is when the simpleton lead characters finally realize they are under surveillance especially when Michelle Williams characters mother gets a way too handsome new suitor. Or when Nixon finds end Vietnam out of a suggestion by the girls. The film is one of Will Ferrell’s first roles while he was still on SNL. Though not a huge fan of Kirsten Dunst it is also one of the few films aimed at the teenagers she affected in usually she played teenagers in dramas geared more towards adults. It was really this, BRING IT ON, CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL, and GET OVER IT. BRING IT ON being the film that made her more of a star. This film would go well with LEGALLY BLONDE as a double feature. As something that seems dumb but is smart in a common way. Though LEGALLY BLONDE has more of a charm It can be witty at times though the film can also be mindlessly entertaining. GRADE: C+