Dave Details

Ghostbusters and Evolution director Ivan Reitman isn't known for his subtlety, but there's nothing crass about this delightful, gentle satire on the Washington political scene. Part-time presidential impersonator Kevin Kline is drafted into the White House when the real president suffers a stroke. However, he soon begins to get a taste for the job, much to the horror of shifty White House aide Frank Langella. Kline is excellent as both the naive stand-in and the ruthless president, while Sigourney Weaver is fine, too, as the bitter First Lady who begins to see her “husband” in a new light. The supporting cast also can't be faulted: as well as Langella, there are lovely turns from Ben Kingsley, Ving Rhames and Charles Grodin. The real-life American politicians who make cameo appearances won't mean much to British audiences, but look out for Oliver Stone, playing himself, who's desperately trying to convince a disbelieving chat-show host that there is another White House conspiracy afoot.

"...Delightful, buoyant....[Ross] and director Ivan Reitman have done a masterful job, crafting a near-perfect movie by realizing its simple goals with panache, political savvy and ample warmth and humor..."