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MOVIES / ON DVD / THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT
The American President

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The American President (1995)

89%
88%
77%
N/A
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89 %
Reviews Counted: 47 Fresh: 42  Rotten:5 Average Rating: 7/10
 
Consensus: A charming romantic comedy with political bite. A charming romantic comedy with political bite, Rob Reiner's American President features strong lead performances and some poignant observations of politics and media in the 1990s. more
 
Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins 3 secs
Synopsis:
Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) is a handsome, youthful widower and a dedicated Democrat raising a teenage daughter. He also just happens to be the president of the United States of America, and a very popular one at that. Unfortunately, he's also quite lonely, and the life of a president... [More]
Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) is a handsome, youthful widower and a dedicated Democrat raising a teenage daughter. He also just happens to be the president of the United States of America, and a very popular one at that. Unfortunately, he's also quite lonely, and the life of a president leaves little time for dating. But when he meets luminous lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), he's instantly smitten and impulsively (and somewhat awkwardly) asks her out to a state dinner. Shocked and highly uncertain of what she's getting into, Sydney accepts his invitation, and the courting process begins--to the unrelenting delight of the media. The chief executive's protective staff, however, isn't so sure the romance is a good thing, particularly when political paparazzi capture Sydney spending the night in the presidential bedroom. While intriguing to the press, the affair spells trouble in the form of Republican presidential hopeful Bob Rumson (Richard Dreyfuss), who uses the romance to attack Shepherd's supposed lack of family values and moral instincts. Rumson's ploy works--Shepherd's popularity plummets, weakening his reelection bid, his hand on Capitol Hill, and ultimately threatening his relationship with Sydney. If Shepherd salvages his political career, will it be at the expense of Sydney's love? [Less]

Genre: Comedies

Starring: Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Richard Dreyfuss

Director: Rob Reiner
Screenwriter: Aaron Sorkin

DVD Info

Release:

Apr 18, 2006

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Keep Case
  • Widescreen - 1.85
  • Full Frame - 1.33

Audio:

  • Dolby Surround 5.1 - English
  • Dolby 2S - English
  • Subtitles - English - Optional
  • Subtitles - French - Optional

Buy It On DVD

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Ratings Image

No review available.

| Comment
03/12/08 03:45 PM
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
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as the 1995 film veers away from the romance, into definable (and dated) political issues, it loses some of its magic.

| Comment
06/14/07 09:30 AM
Douglas Pratt
DVDLaser
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | Comment
06/24/06 03:32 AM
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
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A potentially good adult romance is undone by a preachy left-wing agenda.

| Comment
10/08/05 08:46 PM
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily
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No review available.

| Comment
08/01/05 10:24 AM
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
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Sorkin starts his West Wing warm-up with a winning political rom-com.

| Comment
04/03/05 07:35 AM
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com
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No review available.

| Comment
12/26/04 03:21 PM
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
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Glorious romantic comedy.

Full Review | Comment
08/07/04 02:20 AM
Michael Dequina
Mr. Brown's Movies
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No review available.

| Comment
06/04/04 07:20 AM
Sarah Chauncey
Reel.com
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No review available.

| Comment
05/28/04 07:34 AM
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World
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Predictable and PC, but fun.

| Comment
04/03/04 01:10 PM
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com
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No review available.

| Comment
10/15/03 08:03 PM
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire
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Good romantic comedy. Some funny irreverence about the White House, and a well-meaning political message.

| Comment
07/14/03 01:38 PM
Fred Topel
About.com
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With great looks, a dandy supporting cast, a zinger-filled screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and Mr. Douglas twinkling merrily in the Oval Office, The American President is sunny enough to make the real Presidency pale by comparison.

Full Review | Comment
05/20/03 05:13 PM
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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The casting is inspired, with uniformly crisp performances all around.

Full Review | Comment
05/20/03 05:13 PM
Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly
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While there are a lot of funny lines in the film, well-delivered by an all-star cast, the film's politics are funniest of all.

Full Review | Comment
03/27/03 05:11 PM
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
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So-so fantasy about what a more courageous Bill Clinton might have been like.

| Comment
12/13/02 03:38 PM
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times
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Click to read the article

Full Review | Comment
11/07/02 01:21 PM
James Rocchi
Netflix
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No review available.

| Comment
10/17/02 04:20 PM
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
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Registers as a polished and delightful romantic comedy about soulmates.

Full Review | Comment
08/29/02 12:26 PM
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice
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