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A "wow" cast cannot save this extended sitcom.
Former U.S. Presidents Russell Kramer (Jack Lemmon) and Matt Douglas (James Garner) are wiling away their retirement. Kramer beat Douglas in a close race, Douglas defeated Kramer four years later, and then Kramer's vice-president Haney (Dan Aykroyd) came back and defeated Douglas. Douglas, the Democrat, and Kramer, the Republican, hate each other, tossing insults when lumped together at funerals. Both men are flawed. Kramer is a cheapskate, selling out for a dollar, while Douglas is going through a divorce thanks to his womanizing. President Haney is coasting in the White House with his idiot vice-president (John Heard) when scandal reels its predictable head. A plan is concocted to blame the scandal on Kramer, and Douglas finds himself sucked into the situation as well. The two men go on the run from a hit squad composed of a shadowy NSA agent (Everett McGill- too serious in such a lightweight comedy), and must deal with the real people they once led.
Lemmon and Garner have a great chemistry, Garner subbing in a role originally meant for Walter Matthau, and a quick glance at the performers is pretty impressive. However, the film's screenplay is too light, and barely any of it rings true. Sure, it's fun to see Bradley Whitford in a White House-set story before "The West Wing," and wonder why Marg Helgenberger is uncredited, but by the time the end credits roll, you have a barely funny flick that wastes this set of actors. Peter Segal's direction is certainly...there, although the funniest scene should NOT be a badly-shot special effects sequence involving our leading men on horses. Douglas is a ladies' man, but this character trait is Clintonesque- charming and rascally (no private flights to any shamed millionaire's Caribbean island for him). The screenplay is oddly misogynistic- Lauren Bacall's role as Kramer's wife is slashed, Sela Ward's character is like something out of "All the President's Men" before she vanishes, and Helgenberger's character sexes up Douglas before she disappears, too. The film's focus is obviously on Douglas and Kramer, but not even a scene of former First Lady Kramer showing concern for her missing husband? There are some funny lines, Garner and Lemmon seem to have fun, but the story is bland. I think I laughed out loud once, and mostly had a semi-grin on my face. Other than that, watching this cast of pros muddle through this level of comedy is depressing.
"My Fellow Americans" has about as many laughs as "Olympus Has Fallen." For a charming comedy centered around D.C., check out "Dave."
Stats:
(1996) 101 min. (4/10)
-Directed by Peter Segal
-Screenplay by E. Jack Kaplan & Richard Chapman and Peter Tolan, Story by E. Jack Kaplan & Richard Chapman
-Cast: Jack Lemmon, James Garner, Dan Aykroyd, Lauren Bacall, Everett McGill, John Heard, Wilford Brimley, Bradley Whitford, Marg Helgenberger, Sela Ward, James Rebhorn, Esther Rolle, Conchata Ferrell
(PG-13)
Media Viewed: DVD
