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The American President

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The American President (1995)

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89 %
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Reviews Counted: 47

Fresh: 42

Rotten:5

Average Rating: 7/10

Consensus: 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.

Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins 3 secs

Genre: Comedies

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... 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? [More]

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

Starring: Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Richard Dreyfuss, Samantha Mathis, David Paymer, Anna Deavere Smith

Director: Rob Reiner

Director: Rob Reiner
Screenwriter: Aaron Sorkin

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Aug 31, 1999

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The American President

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
08/18/08
David Ansen
Newsweek
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
03/12/08
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

as the 1995 film veers away from the romance, into definable (and dated) political issues, it loses some of its magic.

comment Comment
06/14/07
Douglas Pratt
DVDLaser
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

A potentially good adult romance is undone by a preachy left-wing agenda.

comment Comment
10/08/05
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

No review available.

comment Comment
08/01/05
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Sorkin starts his West Wing warm-up with a winning political rom-com.

comment Comment
04/03/05
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
12/26/04
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Glorious romantic comedy.

Full Review Source: Mr. Brown's Movies | comment Comment
08/07/04
Michael Dequina
Mr. Brown's Movies

No review available.

comment Comment
06/04/04
Sarah Chauncey
Reel.com

No review available.

comment Comment
05/28/04
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World

Predictable and PC, but fun.

comment Comment
04/03/04
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com

No review available.

comment Comment
10/15/03
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire

Good romantic comedy. Some funny irreverence about the White House, and a well-meaning political message.

comment Comment
07/14/03
Fred Topel
About.com

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 Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The casting is inspired, with uniformly crisp performances all around.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/20/03
Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly

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 Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
03/27/03
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

So-so fantasy about what a more courageous Bill Clinton might have been like.

comment Comment
12/13/02
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
Netflix

No review available.

comment Comment
10/17/02
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
 
 
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July 13, 2007: Spielberg and Sorkin Pair Up For '60s Protest Flick
When one of the most celebrated writers in Hollywood teams up with one of the greatest directors who ever lived -- I bet a few good movies might be the result. More...

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