Dave

North America/Artwork by Kate Dorsey

        I have a list of things I believe all politicians (and now judges) should be required to watch on a regular basis.  One of those things is the film Dave.  With those in power every day forgetting who they actually work for and serve, Dave is definitely a film they need to watch.

President William “Bill” Mitchell (Kevin Kline) has had a stroke.  It happened during a romantic encounter with one of his White House staff.  While this would be a scandal all on its own, it is even more so because President Mitchell is married.

                This turn of events is a disaster for White House Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander (Frank Langella).  He has been using Mitchell for a long time, possibly even before Mitchell was elected.  Having Vice President Gary Nancy (Ben Kingsley) in power will not work because it will ruin all the underhanded things he has been doing.  It will also keep Alexander himself from becoming president.

To keep the possibility of becoming president alive, Alexander gets a stand-in for the president.  He hires a President William Mitchell impersonator, Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline).  Dave’s job is to act as though he is performing the duties of the president, when really he is not.    

                Alexander and Communications Director Alan Reed (Kevin Dunn) expect Dave to do their bidding.  When Dave sees the damage the presidency and government is doing, he decides to go his own way.  In particular, he saves a children’s homeless shelter with the help of his accountant friend, Murray Blum (Charles Grodin), something president Mitchell himself worked to eliminate.

One of the best scenes of the film is when Dave sits in the middle of a cabinet meeting and questions the frivolous ways money is being spent.  He is especially incredulous about the fact the government is spending money to reassure people about cars they already own.  By going against the cabinet directly, Dave is able to save not just one, but many shelters.

                While Dave is able to fool the country into believing he is President Mitchell, he can only trick Mitchell’s wife, Ellen (Sigourney Weaver), for so long.  Her relationship with her husband is so strained even their hand holding is staged for the public.  That is why when her “husband” begins to notice her again, Ellen knows something is going on.  She confronts Dave, and he tells her the truth.  Ellen then forces Dave to take her to her actual husband, who is hidden away on life support.  Once Ellen sees the truth of the situation, and Dave convinces her not to leave, feelings between Ellen and Dave begin to grow, messing things up for Alexander even more.

Angry at all the good Dave is doing for the country, Alexander tries to get Dave and Nance to take to the fall for his own dealings.  Taking Nance down was always part of the plan for Alexander to become president.  Now Alexander believes he must eliminate them both.  Little does he know, Dave has another trick up his sleeve.

                This movie is really funny.  Kevin Kline is hilarious as Dave.  But through the laughter is an important message.  It is the message I really want people to see.

                While president, Dave understands it is the people he is supposed to care for and represent.  It is not the other politicians or people doing deals.  The people of the country are who Dave is worried about, and only them.

                That is what I want people who watch this film to takeaway with them.  It is the people who are affected by the things the government does.  And I’m talking about all levels of government.  From the smallest town all the way to the branches that run the country.  What these people in power decide affects everyone.  Far more than it affects themselves.  Many of the things they decide will never affect them, whether it’s because of social class, connections, gender, race, or sexual orientation, amongst many other reasons, so many rulings and decisions never affect those who make them.  That is why is it important for those in power to watch Dave.  It is a reminder as to who they truly represent.