Dave (1993) review

U.S. President William Mitchell (Kevin Kline) has a debilitating stroke - while fornicating with pretty young aide Randi (Laura Linney) - but instead of handing the country over to "kooky" Vice President Gary Nance (Ben Kingsley), Chief of Staff Bob Alexander (Frank Langella) and Communications Director Alan Reed (Kevin Dunn) arrange for look-alike Dave Kovic (Kline again) to take his place (and be a puppet) ... except Dave's demeanor is a hit with the public and he charms First Lady Ellen (Sigourney Weaver).  Even though former Presidents Clinton and Obama are apparently fans of this attempted piece of Capraesque fantasy, I couldn't help but find it preposterous and corny, and its insinuation that not only would a "body double" con everyone (especially the Veep) but that any Joe Schmo taken off the street, including a temp agency worker, could become the Leader of the Free World overnight is a stretch.  The loaded cast is fine, however: (currently semi-retired) Kline does a good job juggling two roles (one stiff, the other slightly more relaxed), Langella is an outstanding Machiavellian figure and Ving Rhames, playing Secret Service agent Duane Stevenson, is appropriately stoic.  I wished I'd have watched this in the early nineties as opposed to now (it's August of 2025) where the government is controlled by an autocrat and his cadre of sycophantic stooges, so you have to forgive my sourness.