Dave

Written by: Gary Ross Starring: Kevin Kline, Sigouney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn

Kline is brilliant, and Reitman barely misses a beat in this first-rate comic retelling of “The Prince and the Pauper.” This is Hollywood moviemaking at its best, with a superb script played by a dynamite cast and directed by a pro. Product, to be sure, but product with a heart and even a little soul. It avoids the pitfall of predictability and manages to surprise regularly, not to mention make us laugh. Dave is a kind of everyman's fantasy come true, and maybe a nation's as well, because he seems like the sort of president we wish we had. Walking out of this picture you can't help but feel good about movies, and bad about the government. (5/9/93)