Review - The American President (1995)

         Hey guys, Chuck here. Well, we're still inching closer and closer to the next Presidential Election here in the United States, so it's time for the second of two reviews related to the President of the U.S. The last movie I reviewed was Dave, which was about a man hired to serve as a body double for the President. Today's review is, in fact, about the President. 

       Released in 1995, The American President was the second collaboration between director Robert Reiner and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, coming off of their previous collaboration on the courtroom drama A Few Good Men. The American President stars Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Samantha Mathis, and Richard Dreyfus. 

      The movie centers on President Andrew Shepherd, who is preparing for his re-election, and is hoping a crime prevention bill, despite it being seen as too weak by liberals and getting rejected by conservatives, to consolidate his approval rating and guarantee his re-election. At the same time, Shepherd is a widower single father, and his publicity staff really push this part of his life to gain points with the public. Unfortunately, he gets a call from his cousin, who informs that she's taken I'll and won't be able to join him for an upcoming State dinner with the French president. 

       It's here where we meet Sydney Ellen Wade, who is a lawyer and environmental lobbyist working with a firm to push for legislation that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20%. Sydney, along with one of her colleagues, heads to the White House to discuss the environmental legislation to President Shepherd. And, Shepherd finds himself attracted to Sydney, even to the point of calling her to ask her to join him for the State dinner, which she gladly accepts. 

      After the State dinner, President Shepherd makes a deal with Sydney: if she can secure twenty-four Congressional votes for the environmental legislation before the State of the Union address, Shepherd will take care of the remaining ten votes needed. And, as the movie goes on, and Sydney slowly gathers the twenty-four votes she needs, President Shepherd continues to court Sydney, and the two fall in love. And, President Shepherd's daughter, Lucy, also takes a liking to Sydney, which is good. 

       Unfortunately, President Shepherd's staff is starting to have doubts about his efficacy as President, and in the face of his Presidency being challenged by Republican Senator Bob Rumson, who is on the attack against both President Shepherd and Sydney, things beging getting dicey, to the point of Sydney deciding to end their relationship by remarking "Mr. President, you lost more than just me. You lost my vote." This is the wakeup call President Shepherd needed, and he goes in front of the press and addresses many of the things Rumson has stated. Shepherd even goes further, remarking "Sydney Ellen Wade has done nothing to you, Bob. She has done nothing but put herself through school, represent the interests of public school teachers, and lobby for the safety of our natural resources. You want a character debate, Bob? Best stick with me, because Sydney Ellen Wade is way out of your league." Shepherd then reveals that he will be sending an environmental bill to Congress, calling for a 20% cut in fossil fuels, while also adding that the crime bill is being tossed in favor of a stronger bill that has significant gun control measures, ending by saying "My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I AM the President." 

         Just before the State of the Union address, President Shepherd plans to go and reconcile with Sydney, but she goes straight to the White House to reconcile with him, and the two are officially back together. Sydney goes with Shepherd to the State of the Union, and he enters the House Chamber to thunderous applause, ending the movie. 

        The American President excels both as a political film and as a romance film. Seeing screenwriter Aaron Sorkin balance out the romance between President Shepherd and Sydney Ellen Wade with the in's and out's of the President and his staff in the White House was absolutely fantastic. I think this movie was merely a taste of things to come, as we'd see Sorkin go to great success with his television series The West Wing, which also dealt with the in's and out's of the White House staff. The performances from the lead cast, including Michael Douglas as President Shepherd, Annette Bening as Sydney Ellen Wade, and Martin Sheen as White House Chief of Staff A.J. McInnerney, was excellent. And, of course the direction by Robert Reiner was nothing short of fantastic. And, honestly, President Shepherd's speech at the end of the movie probably rivals President Whitmore's speech in Independence Day as one of the greatest President speeches in cinema. 

       Honestly, I have no issues with The American President, and I give the movie a rating of 5/5. Well, guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys next time.