Dave is a movie that I have a ton of nostalgia for, but strangely, I never saw this when it was released back in 1993. The reason I have so much nostalgia for this movie is that my local Blockbuster went all out advertising this when it came out on video. I am talking about a few huge standees, posters, and, of course, a ton of copies available to rent. It was always one of the movies advertised on the many TVs that they had too.
Where to Watch Dave
Dave was released on May 7, 1993. You can stream the film from a digital platform such as Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
The Movie Review
Still, despite seeing Dave so heavily advertised, the movie did not appeal to me at all. It would take me over 20 years to finally get around to watching Dave, and I have to say, I see why people loved this at the time and still do to this day. It is best described as a political comedy, and it is brought to us by Ivan Reitman, who, of course, gave us classics like Ghostbusters and Kindergarten Cop.
Dave’s Star-Studded Cast: A 90s Powerhouse Lineup
I always knew that Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver (the star of Alien) were in this movie, but I never knew what a stacked cast this had! Frank Langella, Sir Ben Kingsley, Ving Rhames, Laura Linney, Kevin Dunn, and more faces that you will instantly recognize have roles in this movie. Dave has to be up there as one of the most stacked casts of any early 90s movie. I got a huge kick out of seeing all these people pop up on the screen.
Dave’s Plot: A Presidential Look-Alike with Heart
The plot is about a man called Dave, who is played by Kevin Kline. Dave is a pretty normal guy with a normal job, but he is a double for the President of the USA, William Harrison Mitchel. Dave makes a few extra bucks by working as a celebrity look a like and he ends up meeting Frank Langella’s Bob Alexander, who works at the White House and is pretty much the villain of the movie. Sure, he is not as evil as he is when he was Skeletor, but it is a fun role, and you truly do hate this guy and want to see him get his comeuppance.
The Twist: Dave Becomes the President
While having an affair, the President has a stroke and goes into a coma, which leads to Bob having Dave pretend to be the President so that he can eventually take the position for himself. While the real President was a bit of an asshole, Dave is a nice guy and wins over the people of America, and the real First Lady, played by Sigourney Weaver. The web of lies and deceit of Bob is revealed as Dave tries to make the best of his situation.
Final Thoughts: A Predictable but Charming Comedy
I have to be honest, this movie is as predictable as they come, and I have to say, I kind of find it super weird that the First Lady would have the hots for a guy who is the double of her husband! Still, even though you can see where the movie is going, pretty much from the first act, Dave still offers you a very fun time, and I highly recommend that you check it out.
