Dick

Rating:
Summary: Wacky satire is diamond in the rough
Review: Dick is an engaging and merry little satire about how President Richard M. Nixon got busted by the Watergate scandal. It failed at the box office. I think this is because the events took place before today's core movie audience was born. I think a sense of history is not something most kids are attracted to. I know I wasn't, and I was a fairly good student. While I did like some history involving folks who were long since dead, I was too busy dealing with what was happening at the moment then to care much about events that took place in my parents' time. The great thing about DVD is that it equalizes the audience age-wise, and perhaps an older crowd will discover Dick ...

Because the reporters' lips have been sealed for over two decades, writer and director Andrew Fleming decided that, since they never gave us the scoop, he was free to give us his ideas on who Deep Throat was. In Fleming's fertile imagination, there were two logical choices, both of which were teenage girls. In Fleming's slightly demented mind, they were named Betsy and Arlene [Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams]. The two were in an apartment at the Watergate, writing fan letters to a pop singer and minding their own business, when the break-in occurred. One of the culprits scared them to death in a hallway, and they didn't see him again until later when they were on a field trip to The White House. To throw them off the scent, they were appointed Nixon's official dog walkers and secret youth advisers. This worked until Nixon showed them his dark side.

Dunst and Williams are very funny as the clueless Betsy and Arlene. They live in that world of the now I wrote about at the start of this review. It's not that they are that dumb, although we are not looking at two future rocket scientists here. It's that they've had no reason to be worldly. All they relate to is that the once cool Nixon winds up being mean to them. The level they operate on is very simple. They know when they've been done right and when they've been done wrong. They are too simple to concoct a true conspiracy, but they have an instinct for righting things when they've been done wrong.

Dan Hedaya, one of those character actors you often admire but can't name, is wonderful as Nixon. He has the mannerisms down to every twitch of those bushy eyebrows. His interactions with the girls and with his staff are on target. As portrayed by Hedaya, he may be brilliant and he may be President, but there are times when he is as clusless as Betsy and Arlene. As Woodward and Bernstein, Will Ferrell and Bruce McCulloch are bizarre enough to make the real reporters turn ghostly white. I had a mental image of them talking about filing a suit against the movie studio, then deciding that that might make them reveal Deep Throat after all.

If there is a flaw in Dick, it's that it's a bit too middle-of-the-road to work as brilliant satire. Perhaps this is because today's thinking tends to include Nixon's great accomplishment as well as his low points. He's not the object of ridicule he was back then, and he shouldn't be. Still, in the Watergate affair, he represented everything you should not do if you plan to stay in power. Since Watergate is the subject, the movie could have benefited from being a bit more biting.

Rating:
Summary: If Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were 2 ditzy teenaged girls
Review: This movie is hysterical -- Arlene and Betsy are 2 teenaged girls in the 1970s having a sleepover at Arlene's place in the Watergate. They are mailing off a letter to the Bobby Sherman fan club (trying to beat the midnight deadline) when they see the infamous Watergate breakin in action. They are recognized the next day during their school trip to the White House, where Nixon, in order to keep an eye on them, offers them jobs as his dog-walkers for Checkers and 'secret youth advisors'.

Arlene switches her celebrity obsession to Nixon, even recording an 18.5 minute love message to him on a tape, which he later erases. All of the details of the Watergate scandal can be traced back to the 2 girls' dizziness.

This is a fun movie with a great soundtrack full of 1970s hits. Highly recommended!!

Rating:
Summary: Definitely Among the Funniest Movies Ever Made
Review: This is the best of the "dumb blonde" movies that have sprung up in recent years (Legally Blonde, Clueless, Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion). The writing is smart, as is the humor, and the acting is superb, particularly from Williams and Dunst. The soundtrack is pretty amazing, too.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Cult Film for all Smart Comdians
Review: This is by far my favorite movie of all times, I can't even tell you how many times I have seen it. It is all about how two dumb teenage blondes (Kristen Dunst and Michelle Williams) acciedently stumple into the watergate cover-up by being in the right places at the wrong times. The movie contains many references to the real events Like a peace accord with the Chinese and tries to explain how many things happened, like the 18 and a half minute gap. It also covers absured topics like Arlen's crush on Dick.
I love how the girls never really plan it be a problem to the president. The only reason they called the washington post was that they wanted to do prank calls. The girls also believe that the world is such a good and wholesome place. After every thing is over Besty saids "They'll never lie to us agian." Its great to think that they could be that innocent.
Watch this movie and watch yourself start to quote it in everyday speach. During a trip to D.C. My sister and I went to several of the locations of the moive and reenacted several parts. Its that good.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious! Kirsten Dunst & Michelle Williams are a STITCH!!!
Review: If any comedy deserved an Emmy Award ,it's DICK! Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams are absolutely hysterically believable in their roles as two goofy teenage girls who get sucked into the Watergate Scandal, and the actor who plays Tricky Dick is fabulous as well. I liked the film so much that I got both the DVD and Tape in case I want to watch it when one of our TVs is busy. It's G R E A T !!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Keeps you laughing
Review: Well you don't have to be a history buff to get the gags in this movie. Both lead actresses have that ditzy, aloof girl next door routine done pat and this along with the situations they accidently find themselves in makes for one heck of a re-watchable movie. I usually love DVD's that have enough content to last 10 or more viewings and this definately one of them. There are plenty of jokes or play on the word ' Dick ' in this movie and that alone is good enough to last for multiple viewings. I'm not a history buff, but you don't have to be to get how ' Walnut Leaves ' could have re-written the history books...There's to much to this movie to explain, just buy its money well spent.

Rating:
Summary: Flyin Hi
Review: Alright check this. Who was this movie really made for? FIrst off you gots the young crowd who really know nothing about Nixon. This seems more like a teen movie to me. Which is a good thing because it tells a little history. Doing it in a fun way. I think they did a great job writing this movie. It's fun and interesting. It keeps your attention (or maybe thas just kirsten dunst) while teaching you something about the past. I don't understand why this movie never really made it at the box office. I have a feeling this will be entertaining people for years to come. It was cool.

Big Truck

Rating:
Summary: A "Forrest Gump" look at History
Review: Reviewing history in a Gump-like way, this movie tells the story of 2 teens who end up at the centre of the Watergate Scandal. Befriending President Nixon's dog, they are allowed greater than normal access to the White House & the President. Of course, their blonde (apologies), naive nature allows them to collect/stumble across clues without realizing the importance of them.

A great movie, enjoyed by all the family. The play on words with the Presidents name (Dick), also provides additional humour. Watch it!

Rating:
Summary: And Don't Forget the Walnuts
Review: A good movie that deals with a significant event in history can be educational as well as entertaining; film is a powerful medium that can put a fresh perspective on why the world today is as it is, and a movie that does all of that can be a satisfying and memorable experience. And "Dick," directed by Andrew Fleming, is a satisfying and memorable film that unequivocally does NOT do any of those things. Because it's too busy doing exactly what it was intended to do: Make you laugh. It's a hilarious comedy about the Nixon White House and the Watergate affair that finally answers the questions everyone has been asking since Nixon declared he wasn't a crook. Like what really happened at the Watergate that night and who alerted the authorities about the break-in? Who was "Deep throat," and why did he use that name? Where did Nixon come up with the idea to flash his famous "Victory" sign? And what was really on that eighteen-and-a-half minutes of tape that got erased?

Kirsten Dunst is Betsy Jobs, a normal, everyday teenager whose best friend, Arlene Lorenzo (Michelle Williams), just happens to live at the Watergate. One night at Arlene's place, the girls are frantically working to finish an essay for Arlene to enter in a "Win a date with Bobby Sherman" contest; this is important stuff-- Arlene just HAS to win, but her entry has to be in the mailbox by midnight. They manage to finish in time and rush out to the mailbox, but as they're hurrying down the stairs and into the parking garage, they inadvertently do and then see something that ultimately-- and history buffs take note!-- has a significant impact on the Nixon administration, and consequently on the course of history. But for Betsy and Arlene, it's only the beginning of their personal involvement with the leader of the free world. And all this time later, who knew?

What makes this movie so good is that it's clever without having to force itself on you; the humor is subtle without being too deep, which makes it accessible to just about everyone, as well as enjoyable. You don't have to think too hard to get it, and it doesn't assault you with slapstick, silliness or the grossness that defines so many comedies involving teens today. There's even a parody of Woodward and Bernstein (Will Ferrell and Bruce McCulloch) that works well, and though it's not among the film's most memorable moments, it is funny.

What is memorable about this movie is Dunst and Williams, and especially Dan Hedaya, whose take on Richard Nixon is a dead-on riot. He's got the body language and the mannerisms down pat, and it's a hoot. And the girls are endearingly frivolous; they've got the looks, the attitude and the spirit of everything Teen, to which they bring a carefree depth to their perception of the world and their place in it, kind of like a younger version of Romy and Michele with the freshness of youth and their whole lives ahead of them.

This is a comedy that will appeal to a wide audience and transcend demographics because it's a multi-generational, nonpartisan, funny film. Teens will identify with Betsy and Arlene regardless of the context, and everyone else will be able to relate to the politics and the era on any number of levels. What's important is that it's presented in a light-hearted way, without malice and with the sole purpose of giving you a good time and a lot of laughs (which it certainly does). And it's good clean fun; parents can watch this one with the kids without any fear of embarrassment, and on the other hand, you can take your grandmother to see it, as well.

The supporting cast includes Teri Garr (Helen Lorenzo), Dave Foley (Bob Haldeman), Jim Breuer (John Dean), Ana Gasteyer (Rose Mary Woods), Harry Shearer (G. Gordon Liddy), Saul Rubinek (doing a right-on Henry Kissinger), G.D. Spradlin (Ben Bradlee) and Devon Gummersall (Larry). An uplifting movie with some bona fide laugh-out-loud moments, "Dick" gives a skewing to a serious event and time, but it does it with reverence, respect and good taste, and it emerges as something of a paean to eternal youth and the indomitability of the human spirit in the face of an ever-changing world. In the end, this is a film that will make your heart light and put a smile on your face. And that, without a doubt, is the magic of the movies.

Rating:
Summary: Something Original for a Change
Review: There has been a gradual dumbing down in the movies which Hollywood produces these days. It has gotten to the point where many of them are simply unwatchable. This movie is one of the few exceptions to this trend -- it is original, clever, and funny. The final scene is priceless! Although younger viewers should enjoy it as well, it is a must see for anyone who grew up during the Watergate era. It is a dirty shame that Dick was not a box office success, because it means that Hollywood will only subject us to more Steven Seagal movies and other such dreck.