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What If A Comedian Was President? What If It Was Robin Williams!
BY MAGGIE SCOTT
Director Barry Levinson joins the rest of the cowed liberal crowd who refuse to put their political fortunes on the line and declare that the emperor has no clothes. Levinson’s new political comedy thriller, “Man of the Year” teases rather than tears down the status quo with its comedian mouthpiece for frustrated, fed-up Americans who believe that the only national security politicians are working for is their own fat cat jobs.
Levinson trades on the cutting edge courage of such real life political commentator comics as Bill Mahre, Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert with his fictional version in the character of Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams).
Dobbs’ makes-sense observations on the endlessly varied and critical ways in which the American public is being shafted by their elected officials make him an obvious choice to run as a presidential candidate as far as his fans are concerned.
“One thing leads to another,” in the words of Dobbs’ manager (Christopher Walken), with a little help from the internet; and Dobbs finds himself on the campaign trail. He struggles at first striking a balance between serious pontificator (the audience fidgets) and manic monologist.
Dobbs knows he has to convince people he is a credible choice to lead the country. But, too often, it looks like people aren’t willing to really listen unless the issues are framed in a comedy routine.
But, as election day draws to a close, it appears that enough have heard his message; and the media trumpets, “The Free World will now be led by a comedian.”
Dobbs’ celebration is tempered by nagging doubt. He might have sounded like he had all the answers to facing the nation’s problems honestly; but honestly, was he really the best choice for the job of Commander in Chief? Was the American public that desperate for comic relief from its troubles?
As the president-elect settles into preparing to take over the Oval office, a conscience-stricken employee of Delacroy Voting Systems drops a bomb: a computer glitch, not the voters, gave Dobbs the advantage over his opponents.
Eleanor (Laura Linney) naively believes her company will fess up. But, when it’s clear they have no intention of so doing, Eleanor knows the only recourse is Dobbs.
How to tell him? How to convince him to do the right thing? How to resist the unexpected feelings of attraction for him? How to stay out of the clutches of Delacroy’s hit man (Jeff Goldblum) determined to discredit Eleanor and possibly delete her?
Ultimately, the pulled political punches, the jokes that tank, the far-fetched love connection and slapdash suspense angle, all undercut Levinson’s well-meaning, but cautious what-if.
Walken delivers another weirdly wonderful performance and Williams strikes an admirable balance of clown and crusader.
A Universal Pictures release, rated PG-13 for language including crude sexual references, drug related material and brief violence.
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