VideoDetective.com
Dave (1993)
Released By: Warner Home Video   Rating: PG-13   In Theaters: N/A
Your video will start shortly...



More Videos:
Preview Details
User Reviews
Studio: Warner Home Video
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Ivan Reitman
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Charles Grodin, Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver
Published ID: 4573
UPC: 085391296225, 883929039975,
Plot: The ghost of Frank Capra must have smiled when he saw Dave, an amusing and effective update of one of Capra's favorite themes -- the scrupulously honest little guy who becomes a force for good against a corrupt system. Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline) runs an employment agency and seems to genuinely enjoy finding work for people who need it. He also bears a striking resemblance to the president of the United States, Bill Mitchell (also played by Kline) and occasionally gets work as a Bill Mitchell impersonator. One day, Dave gets a call from the Secret Service -- for security purposes, they want to hire him to act as a decoy for an upcoming appearance by the president. All goes well, but later that evening President Mitchell suffers a massive stroke while in bed with his mistress. Wanting to keep the matter a secret, two of the president's top advisors appeal to Dave to stand in as Bill Mitchell until he regains his health. One of the men behind this scheme, Bob Alexander (Frank Langella), hopes to use Mitchell's absence to promote his own right-wing political agenda, but after a few weeks in office, Dave decides it's time to promote some changes of his own that will help increase employment and keep homeless shelters open. Dave also finds himself growing fond of Ellen Mitchell (Sigourney Weaver), the President's wife, while Ellen sees in Dave the idealism her husband left behind years ago. Dave features numerous cameo appearances by politicians, Washington insiders, and journalists; Oliver Stone also appears to explain a conspiracy theory regarding sudden changes in Bill Mitchell's behavior. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Happy movie
Added 10/23/2009

This is a great little feel good movie. Watch it when you need a lift!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Love it
Added 10/2/2009

I received this movie in good time and it has always been a favorite of mine.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Subtitles on DVD
Added 9/27/2009

I was wondering if anyone who purchased this DVD encountered a problem with subtitles and inability to select to play the special features indicated on the back of the DVD box.

The DVD I received displays subtitles in English (the menu setup on the Samsung DVD player that is able to be displayed when I stop the DVD from playing also allows selecting subtitles in numerous other languages); the language of the DVD itself is in English. However, I am unable to turn off the subtitles. Furthermore, on the back of the DVD package, there is information about playing special features such as Production Notes, Theatrical Trailers, etc. Yet, when the DVD begins after loading, there is no menu option to select to play these special features. The movie itself just begins to play.

I'm wondering if this is the DVD itself or something I am (not) doing with my Samsung DVD player. Thanks.

0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
We're walking...
Added 9/12/2009

Dave, the character played by Kevin Kline as the stand-in president, is the perfect opposite of what we actually have in most politicians. Dave is authentic, not overly concerned with image, and is the classic unsophisticated everyman.

The movie is both funny and serious, as it portrays the misadventures of Dave as he is kidnapped by the Secret Service to take the place of the actual president, who has been stricken with a stroke.

Does politics intrude on the movie? Yes, if you're looking for it. Dave is, after all, portrayed as kind of a bleeding heart liberal, but in the nicest possible way: he genuinely cares about people; there doesn't appear to be a scheming, back-stabbing bone in his body.

While Dave, the movie, was released 16 years ago, it still rings true and will be, and should be, considered a classic movie about what is good about America and Americans.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
I''m sure that Kevin Kline, as President Bill Mitchell, was
Added 8/6/2009

channelling the first George Bush. The glasses, the mannerism. Plus the fact that this movie was made in the year he left office. I haven't seen this movie for 10 or 12 years so it was almost like new to me. Dave is a likeable, naive, everyman with an uncanny resembalance to the president. He has used it to make extra money & the White House had used him that very fateful night. The president is a rather mean sprited crook. He also cheats on his wife. While in bed with a young, female aide, he has a massive stroke. He is not going to survive. Instead of calling the vice-president, the president's Chief of Staff, a deliously evil, Frank Langella, calls on Dave to sit in as the president while he puts a rather complex plan into operation to seize the presidency for himself. He figures he can handle Dave & control the government from behind the scenes until his plan can go into effect. Time passes & President Mitchell still persists in a brain-dead coma. Dave starts to realize how criminally Langella has acted & starts exerting some authority. Meanwhile, he starts getting friendly with the first lady, Ellen (Sigourney Waever) who had been estranged from & ignored by the president. She knows about his affairs & soon figures out Dave is not the president. But he is interested in her pet project, helping homeless orphans which the president had rejected. So she doesn't blow the whistle & they begin to fall in love. When Dave becomes fully aware of Langella's criminality he fires him & the now ex-Chief of Staff plots revenge. The whole mess gets straightened out in the end. This movie puts me in mind of several movies that followed such as American President & Wag the Dog. My two favorite scenes were the first lady confronting Dave while he's in the shower. The scene of Langella, alone in the oval office softly humming 'Hail to the Chief' while he gleefully forges the president signature on various bills is priceless. Glossed over of course, is the fact that Dave & the first lady have themselves committed some serious crimes. But that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of this movie. In fact, you'll probably root for them.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Happy movie
Added 10/23/2009

This is a great little feel good movie. Watch it when you need a lift!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Love it
Added 10/2/2009

I received this movie in good time and it has always been a favorite of mine.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Subtitles on DVD
Added 9/27/2009

I was wondering if anyone who purchased this DVD encountered a problem with subtitles and inability to select to play the special features indicated on the back of the DVD box.

The DVD I received displays subtitles in English (the menu setup on the Samsung DVD player that is able to be displayed when I stop the DVD from playing also allows selecting subtitles in numerous other languages); the language of the DVD itself is in English. However, I am unable to turn off the subtitles. Furthermore, on the back of the DVD package, there is information about playing special features such as Production Notes, Theatrical Trailers, etc. Yet, when the DVD begins after loading, there is no menu option to select to play these special features. The movie itself just begins to play.

I'm wondering if this is the DVD itself or something I am (not) doing with my Samsung DVD player. Thanks.

0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Photos


There are currently no photos.
Shopping
IDPriceImageUrlPurchaseUrlIdTypeBindingStore
VHS
$1.38 @ Amazon
DVD
$7.49 @ Amazon
DVD
$13.49 @ Amazon