Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A sweet-natured Temp Agency operator and amateur Presidential look-alike is recruited by the Secret Service to become a temporary stand-in for the President of the United States.
Dave is a charming, warmhearted political comedy that succeeds largely on the strength of its performances. Kevin Kline delivers a genuinely exceptional dual performance, navigating both the corrupt President and the earnest Dave with real comedic and dramatic range, and he's supported by a terrific cast including Sigourney Weaver and Frank Langella. The plot is a classic body-double premise executed with genuine warmth and wit, though it follows a fairly predictable arc. Cinematography is functional and unambitious — standard early-90s studio work with no distinctive visual choices. Novelty is moderate: the premise isn't wholly original (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington DNA runs through it), but the film has a distinct, sunny idealism and light touch that gives it its own personality. The ending is satisfying but conventional, wrapping up neatly without much surprise.