My Fellow Americans (20 December 1996)
directed by Peter Segal
starring Jack Lemmon, James Garner, Dan Aykroyd, John Heard, Wilford Brimley, Lauren Bacall, Sela Ward, Everett McGill, Bradley Whitford, James Rebhorn, Esther Rolle, Tom Everett
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MPAA rating: Studio: Peters Entertainment, Storyline Entertainment, Warner Brothers Script: E. Jack Kaplan, Richard Chapman, Peter Tolan Music: William Ross Running time: 101 minutes Suggested retail price: $19.98 (US) Tags: assassination; Comedy; homosexuality; murder; NSA; Politics; power; secret service Tactical strength: [7/10]
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for salty language and innuendo
This unusual combination buddy and road trip movie pairs up two former presidents, Republican Russell P. Kramer (Jack Lemmon) and Democrat Matt Douglas (James Garner). The current president, William Haney (Dan Aykroyd), served as Kramer's vice president and during that time apparently used his office to make money. Reporters have started investigating the money-making scheme, and it looks like Haney wants to put the blame on at least one if not both of the former presidents. After the two former presidents narrowly escape dying in a sabotaged helicopter, they decide to make a trek to Ohio for evidence that will implicate Haney. With almost no cash in their pockets, Presidents Kramer and Douglas begin their road trip and a never-ending series of caustic jokes at each other's expense.
Both Lemmon and Garner make believable presidents, and they easily execute their lines from the well crafted script. A cub reporter from the Washington Post could work out the political intrigue of My Fellow Americans in a matter of minutes, but then you don't need a Tom Clancy class scandal for a light comedy. The intrigue motivates the former presidents and keeps them working together and making making jokes at each other's expense and with excellent comedic timing. You won't gain a profound sense of patriotic duty or hang onto the edge of your seat, but you do get a nice light comedy that holds up well under repeated viewings.
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