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Features: DVD, Pan and Scan (TV Format), Widescreen, French, Subtitled, Trailers
Boy meets girl, boy dates girl, boy and girl fall in love -- and the press tracks their every move, rivals fire broadsides of innuendo and a Presidency that had a popularity rate of 63% plunges to 41% in just seven weeks. When you're the President, everyone knows where you live. Michael Douglas portrays the widower Chief Executive who falls for an environmental lobbyist (Annette Bening), then freefalls in the polls in this shrewd and winning "what if?" romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally...). Bustling staff members (Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, David Paymer, Anna Deavere Smith), a sneering opponent (Richard Dreyfuss), state dinners, formal protocol, informal moments, global crises -- all come into focus as Reiner and his stars explore the balance between private romance and public Presidency. The address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, home of "a winning ticket" (Joel Siegel, Good Morning America/ABC-TV).
"Two enthusiastic thumbs up! Very smart, very funny." Siskel & Ebert
"...a winning ticket." Joel Siegel, Good Morning America, ABC-TV
Editor's Note
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?
Plot Summary
In director Rob Reiner's THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, the young, widowed U.S. president--at the peak of his popularity--falls in love with an environmental lobbyist and discovers that mixing his personal life with the presidency isn't as simple as he thought--especially during an election year.
| Features | Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 | | Dual Layered | | Original Theatrical Trailer | | Cast/Crew Information | | Filmographies | | Widescreen Presentation | | Subtitles: English, French | | Interactive Menus |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Warner |
| Release Date: 9/27/2005 |
| Running Time: 115 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1995 | | Catalog ID: 2550 | | UPC: 00053939255027 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Available Subtitles: English, French | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (1996) | | | Marc Shaiman, Nominee, Best Music, Original Musical Or Comedy Score | |
Golden Globe (1996) | | | Rob Reiner, Nominee, Best Director | | | Michael Douglas, Nominee, Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical | | | Annette Bening, Nominee, Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical | | | Aaron Sorkin, Nominee, Best Screenplay-Motion Picture |
| Memorable Quotes| "I think it went well. She threatened me, I condescended to her. I think there might be a future there."----President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) | | "I'm going to get her flowers. Isn't that what men do when they break a date?"----President Andrew Shepherd |"That is not what men do. I know no men who do that."----Robin McColl (Anna Deveare Smith) |
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| | Professional Reviews | Rolling Stone
"...An exuberant romantic comedy..." 11/30/1995 p.76Sight and Sound
"...[A] very funny film....[Bening] displays a sort of twinkly dynamism that no other actress in Hollywood can quite match..." 01/01/1996 p.36 USA Today
"...A super cast injects it with Teddy Roosevelt vitality..." 11/17/1995 p.1D Variety
"...Douglas and Bening are more than up to the challenge, delivering winning turns..." 11/06/1995 Chicago Sun-Times
"...A great entertainment....The movie is, above all, a witty and warm romance....One of the year's best films..." 11/17/1995 p.41 Washington Post 0 of 10
In The American President, a frothy White House comedy from director Rob Reiner, affairs of state prevent two smitten public servants from attending to more pressing domestic issues. Reiner probably sees the film as a liberal wake-up call, but it is essentially an enjoyably starry-eyed romance about a widowed president (Michael Douglas) who is bowled over by a gorgeous lobbyist (Annette Bening)... The American President touches on all manner of [Washington] issues but illumines none of them. And while there are some engaging glimpses of the president's staff in action -- Michael J. Fox (riffing on George Stephanopoulos), Martin Sheen (Mack McLarty) and David Paymer (Stanley Greenberg) -- the film's principal pleasures lie in the president's pursuit of a first lady. After all, somebody's got to pick out the china. - Rita Kempley
HBO On-Line 0 of 10
Annette Bening is the primary reason to buy a ticket for The American President. She brings a lot of warmth and charm to this fairy-tale comedy that is White House set. Even Michael Douglas, as Democratic President Andrew Shepard, comes across with some down-home humanity that is supposed to make us think (I guess) of Bill Clinton. Mr. Shepard is First Ladyless since the death of his wife. Can a single-guy President jump back into the dating pool? Will the prudish Republicans bust a gut if the President's lady sleeps over? Does the First Daughter approve of Daddy dating a lobbyist? Can the US President order flowers by simply calling up an FTD florist? These are the most troubling questions raised by Rob Reiner's mild-mannered take on love among the legislative bodies. We could wish for more bite and more depth, but The American President is genial fun that demands little from its constituents. The winning Ms. Bening, as lobbyist Sydney Wade, gets my vote, no matter what her cause. Garnering some laughs in support are Michael J. Fox as a Stephanopoulos-like advisor, David Paymer, Anna Deavere Smith and Martin Sheen. The villain of the piece is a nasty Republican senator played by Richard Dreyfuss. Unfortunately, the script eliminates him from the big finale, when the mudslinging could have really gotten good. If only Washington were so civil in real life. - Jim Byerley
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