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{{distinguish|Meet Dave}}
{{Infobox_Film |
name = Dave |
image = Dave poster.jpg |
writer = [[Gary Ross]] |
starring = [[Kevin Kline]],<br>[[Sigourney Weaver]],<br>[[Frank Langella]],<br>[[Kevin Dunn]],<br>[[Ving Rhames]],<br>and [[Ben Kingsley]] |
director = [[Ivan Reitman]] |
producer = [[Ivan Reitman]],<br>[[Lauren Shuler-Donner]] |
distributor = [[Warner Bros. ]] |
released = [[May 7]], [[1993]]|
runtime = 110 min. |
language = English |
budget = |
music = [[James Newton Howard]]|
awards = |
imdb_id = 0106673 |
}}
'''''Dave''''' is a [[1993]] [[comedy-drama]] [[film|movie]] written by [[Gary Ross]], directed by [[Ivan Reitman]], and starring [[Kevin Kline]] (in a dual role), [[Sigourney Weaver]], [[Frank Langella]], [[Kevin Dunn]], [[Ving Rhames]], [[Ben Kingsley]], and [[Laura Linney]]. Ross was nominated for an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for his screenplay. Kline's performance was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award]].


{{Short description|1993 film by Gary Ross}}
==Plot==
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{spoiler}}
Kline plays Dave Kovic, who runs a temporary employment agency in [[Baltimore]]. As a sideline, he makes public and private appearances [[impersonator|impersonating]] [[United States President|President]] William "Bill" Harrison Mitchell, whom he greatly resembles (and who, of course, is also played by Kline). Mitchell's devious [[White House Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff]], Bob Alexander ([[Frank Langella]]), hires Kovic to make an exit at an appearance of President Mitchell, to cover up an [[adultery|extramarital affair]] that Mitchell is having.


{{Infobox film
When the real President Mitchell suffers a [[stroke]] during the affair that leaves him in a [[coma]], Bob Alexander sees an opportunity. Along with [[White House Communications Director|Communications Director]] Alan Reed ([[Kevin Dunn]]), Alexander arranges for the President's comatose state to be kept secret. They then [[confidence trick|con]] Kovic into impersonating the president on an ongoing basis by telling him that the country would suffer if the truth was revealed or if [[United States Vice President|Vice President]] Gary Nance ([[Ben Kingsley]]), who they say is [[mentally ill]], took office.
| name = Dave
| image = Dave poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ivan Reitman]]
| producer = Ivan Reitman<br />[[Lauren Shuler Donner]]
| writer = [[Gary Ross]]
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Kevin Kline]]
* [[Sigourney Weaver]]
* [[Frank Langella]]
* [[Kevin Dunn]]
* [[Ving Rhames]]
* [[Ben Kingsley]]}}<!-- per poster -->
| music = [[James Newton Howard]]
| cinematography = [[Adam Greenberg (cinematographer)|Adam Greenberg]]
| editing = [[Sheldon Kahn]]
| studio = [[Ivan Reitman|Northern Lights Entertainment]]<br />[[The Donners' Company|Donner/Shuler-Donner]]
| distributor = [[Warner Bros.]]
| released = {{Film date|1993|05|07}}
| runtime = 110 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $28 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59500|title=AFI-Catalog|website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref>
| gross = $92 million<ref name=ww>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|page=M-56|date=October 17, 1994|title=Top 100 grossers worldwide, '93-94}}</ref>
}}


'''''Dave''''' is a 1993 American political [[comedy film]] directed by [[Ivan Reitman]], written by [[Gary Ross]], and starring [[Kevin Kline]] and [[Sigourney Weaver]]. [[Frank Langella]], [[Kevin Dunn]], [[Laura Linney]], [[Ving Rhames]], [[Charles Grodin]], and [[Ben Kingsley]] appear in supporting roles. ''Dave'' was a box office success, and was met with critical acclaim.
The real idea, of course, is that Alexander will now exercise the power of the presidency through Kovic as a patsy. But instead Kovic sets his own course of action, which revives Mitchell's popularity with the public and mystifies both the Washington media (several well-known personalities make [[cameo appearance]]s as themselves) and [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] Ellen Mitchell ([[Sigourney Weaver]]), whose public support of her husband has been a cover for bitter marital strife in their private life. When he takes the exteme action of reworking the [[United States federal budget|national budget]] in order to save a $650,000,000 program for helping the homeless -- a project she supported but Alexander wanted vetoed -- she confronts him and eventually joins in the act. With this development, Kovic holds a news conference announcing that he is firing Bob Alexander.


==Plot==
Eventually, Kovic meets Nance, who chastises him for being isolated from the cabinet by being sent out of the country on a public relations coup. Kovic comes to realize that affable Nance isn't insane, but merely has different political ideas than Alexander. They end up bonding one night when Nance discusses his career from being an unhappy shoe salesman to being the [[Vice President]]. He is also exposed to Ellen, whom he has to convince to hang around in order to maintain the ruse. Despite Ellen's cynicism, she is soon charmed by Dave's sincere desire to use his position to improve the nation.
Dave Kovic runs a [[Temporary work|temporary employment agency]] in [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown, Washington, D.C.]], and, as a side job, capitalizes on his remarkable resemblance to [[President of the United States|President]] Bill Mitchell by comically impersonating him at events. [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] agent Duane Stevenson recruits him to impersonate Mitchell after a speech, ostensibly as a security precaution, but actually to allow Mitchell to meet Randi, a White House staffer with whom he is having an affair.


Dave's appearance goes well, but Mitchell suffers a major [[stroke]] while having sex with Randi. His [[White House Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff]], Bob Alexander, is inspired to ask Dave to continue in his role. Bob's scheme is to force [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] Gary Nance to resign by embroiling him in a [[savings and loan crisis|savings and loan scandal]]; then Dave, acting as Mitchell, will appoint Bob vice president; then Dave will fake a more serious stroke and Bob will become president. [[White House Communications Director|Communications Director]] Alan Reed is initially hesitant, but eventually acquiesces and tells the [[White House press corps|press corps]] the stroke was minor. Claiming that Nance is mentally unstable, Bob and Alan convince Dave he must continue impersonating Mitchell for the good of the country. Nance is sent on a goodwill tour of [[Africa]].
Eventually Bob Alexander tries to destroy Kovic by exposing a [[scandal]] that implicates Mitchell and Nance. In a [[United States Congress#Joint sessions|joint session of Congress]], Kovic, as Mitchell, admits to his role in the scandal, but provides evidence proving that Alexander was the mastermind and that Nance was innocent. Kovic then fakes a stroke and is switched back with the still-comatose Mitchell. Mitchell is then declared incompetent under the [[Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|25th Amendment]], and eventually dies. The groundswell of affection generated by the fake President is transferred to the real President, as the public and the media mourn his death, still unaware of the presumably illegal ruse that had been conducted when Dave was acting as President. Bob Alexander keeps quiet about it, presumably because exposing it would only serve to add more years to his prison sentence. Nance becomes President and promises to carry out Mitchell's (actually Kovic's) promise of a [[full employment|full-employment]] program.


Dave's charm and enthusiasm improves Mitchell's image and popularity. [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] Ellen Mitchell, who has been estranged from her husband for years, initially suspects nothing and treats Dave with contempt on the few occasions they see each other. When she sees Dave's empathy towards a shy boy at a [[homeless shelter]] for which she is a staunch advocate, she begins to soften towards him. Her fury returns, though, after Bob [[Forgery|forges]] Mitchell's signature on the [[Veto#United States|veto]] of a bill that included funding for the shelter. Dave, after consulting his [[accountant]] friend Murray Blum, works with the [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]] to restore the funding. A furious Bob threatens to destroy Dave, but Alan vows to expose their scheme if he does and all three of them will end up in jail.
In the movie's final scene, Kovic is running his own campaign for [[city council]]; Ellen Mitchell comes into the office and kisses him.
{{endspoilers}}


Ellen, having witnessed Dave's considerable efforts to save the shelter, tricks him into admitting he's an impostor and asks to see her husband. Dave has Duane escort them to a secret hospital room beneath the White House, where Mitchell remains in a coma. They are told he won't recover. They both resolve to leave the White House, but after spending a night out alone together, they begin to fall in love. Ellen tells Dave she's gone along with the charade of a happy marriage because she thought that as First Lady, she could help people. Dave tells her he wishes he could.
== Background ==
The film bears significant resemblance, in both its plot and characters, to a little-known Hollywood musical, ''The Phantom President'' ([[1932]]), which starred the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] song-and-dance-man [[George M. Cohan]] in the dual role of the cold, corrupt politician and his charming, idealistic double. [[Claudette Colbert]] played his politically savvy bride-to-be, and [[Jimmy Durante]] was his razzle-dazzle campaign manager. The film included songs by [[Richard Rodgers]] and [[Lorenz Hart]]. The [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] film was directed by [[Norman Taurog]].


The next day, Dave, still as Mitchell, calls a [[press conference]], making Bob furious that Dave is no longer obeying him. Dave fires Bob, who in turn tries to fire him, but Dave dares Bob to tell the press about the switch. At the press conference, Dave announces a monumental plan to [[Job guarantee|provide a job to every American who wants one]].
Such [[doppelgänger]] plots have a long literary and dramatic lineage in such works as [[Mark Twain]]'s ''[[The Prince and the Pauper]]'', [[Anthony Hope]]'s ''[[The Prisoner of Zenda]]'', [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s ''[[Double Star]]'', ''[[Moon Over Parador]]'' starring [[Richard Dreyfuss]], ''[[The Man in the Iron Mask]]'' by [[Alexandre Dumas]] and [[Colin Forbes]]'s ''[[The Leader and the Damned]]''.


Nance returns from Africa and confronts Dave for trying to frame him for crimes of which Bob and the real Mitchell are actually guilty. In retaliation against Dave, Bob reveals evidence implicating Mitchell in the scandal, which Alan admits is true. Despite talk of [[impeachment]], Dave refuses to back off his jobs plan, while Bob quietly begins to garner support for a presidential run.
== Cast ==
* [[Kevin Kline]] .... Dave Kovic/President Bill Mitchell
* [[Sigourney Weaver]] .... Ellen Mitchell
* [[Frank Langella]] .... Bob Alexander
* [[Kevin Dunn]] .... Alan Reed
* [[Ving Rhames]] .... Duane Stevenson
* [[Ben Kingsley]] .... Vice President Nance
* [[Charles Grodin]] .... Murray Blum
* [[Faith Prince]] .... Alice
* [[Laura Linney]] .... Randi


During a [[Joint session of the United States Congress|joint session of Congress]], Dave admits that Bob's allegations are true and produces proof, provided by Alan, that shows that Bob was also involved, and that Nance is innocent. After Dave apologizes to Nance and the country, he fakes another stroke; switching places with Mitchell, he resumes his previous life. The hospital pronounces the "second" stroke as major, and Mitchell continues to lie in a [[coma]] for five more months before dying. As [[Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|acting president]] and then president, Nance backs the jobs plan, which becomes law. Bob and several Mitchell administration officials are indicted, while Alan continues working in the White House.
== Characters ==


Dave runs for the [[Government of the District of Columbia#Council|D.C. city council]] with the help of Murray and his employment agency staff. Dave is surprised one day when Ellen visits. He escorts her into his office, where they share their first kiss. Dave closes the shades to give them privacy and Duane, wearing one of Dave's campaign buttons, steps in front of the door.
* ''ALEXANDER, BOB''
President '''Bill Mitchell’s''' chief of staff, and '''Dave Kovic’s''' chief of thorns-in-the-side. When Mitchell’s life is taken by a stroke, Bob decides not to turn over the reins of power to kind and decent '''Vice President Nance,''' but instead to use Dave as a front man. The deception works…but too well. Whereas Mitchell was an oily and dishonest manipulator—as is Bob—Dave is truthful and noble enough to make you cry. So do the dismayed Bob and his henchman, '''Alan Reed,''' realize that they’ve created a monster…but only by their own standards.


==Cast==
* ''KOVIC, DAVE''
{{Cast listing|
This undistinguished nice guy runs an employment agency. Well, he’s not entirely undistinguished, since he happens to look exactly like the president of the United States. When President '''Bill Mitchell''' (a wimpy philanderer who’s on the brink of divorce from his First Lady) sneaks away for a quickie with his mistress, Dave is recruited by the Secret Service to stand in for him. Then President Mitchell dies of a stroke, and Dave is hired on a permanent—or at least indefinite—basis. Dave (who could never rest when one of his clients needed a job) is thrilled when asked to fill the President’s shoes, and enjoys the experience immensely. That is, until White House chief of staff '''Bob Alexander''' tries to manipulate him and run the country as a puppet-master.
* [[Kevin Kline]] as Dave Kovic/President William Harrison Mitchell

* [[Sigourney Weaver]] as Ellen Mitchell
== Political cameos ==
* [[Frank Langella]] as Bob Alexander
To enhance the film's realism, many [[politics|political]] and [[entertainment]] personalities have [[cameo appearance|cameos]] in the film as themselves:
* [[Kevin Dunn]] as Alan Reed
* [[Ving Rhames]] as Duane Stevenson
* [[Ben Kingsley]] as Vice President Gary Nance
* [[Charles Grodin]] as Murray Blum
* [[Faith Prince]] as Alice
* [[Laura Linney]] as Randi
* [[Tom Dugan (actor, born 1961)|Tom Dugan]] as Jerry
* [[Stephen Root]] as Don Durenberger
* [[Ralph Manza]] as White House Barber
* [[Bonnie Hunt]] as White House Tour Guide
* [[Anna Deavere Smith]] as Mrs. Travis
* [[Charles Hallahan]] as Policeman
* [[Stefan Gierasch]] as House Majority Leader}}


===Cameos===
;Politicians
{{Cast listing|
* [[Chris Dodd|Senator Chris Dodd]]
* [[Tom Harkin|Senator Tom Harkin]]
* [[Howard Metzenbaum|Senator Howard Metzenbaum]]
* [[Abner Mikva|Judge Abner J. Mikva]]
* [[Tip O'Neill|Former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill]]
* [[Paul Simon (politician)|Senator Paul Simon]]
* [[Alan Simpson (American politician)|Senator Alan K. Simpson]]
}}


;Media personalities
* [[Fred Barnes (journalist)|Frederic W. Barnes]]
{{Cast listing|
* [[Ronald Brownstein]]
* [[Fred Barnes (journalist)|Fred Barnes]]
* [[Eleanor Clift]]
* [[Eleanor Clift]]
* [[Christopher Dodd]]
* [[Tom Harkin]]
* [[Bernard Kalb]]
* [[Bernard Kalb]]
* [[Larry King]]
* [[Larry King]]
Line 72: Line 92:
* [[Frank Mankiewicz]]
* [[Frank Mankiewicz]]
* [[Chris Matthews]]
* [[Chris Matthews]]
* [[John McLaughlin]]
* [[John McLaughlin (host)|John McLaughlin]]
* [[Howard Metzenbaum]]
* [[Robert Novak]]
* [[Richard Reeves (American writer)|Richard Reeves]]
* [[Abner J. Mikva]]
* [[Robert D. Novak]]
* [[Thomas P. 'Tip' O'Neill]]
* [[Richard Reeves]]
* [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]
* [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]
* [[Paul Simon (politician)]]
* [[Alan K. Simpson|Alan Simpson]]
* [[Ben Stein]]
* [[Ben Stein]]
* [[Oliver Stone]]
* [[Oliver Stone]]
* [[Kathleen Sullivan]]
* [[Kathleen Sullivan (journalist)|Kathleen Sullivan]]
* [[Jeff Tackett]]
* [[Jeff Tackett]]
* [[Helen Thomas]]
* [[Helen Thomas]]
* [[Nina Totenberg]]
* [[Nina Totenberg]]
* [[Sander Vanocur]]
* [[Sander Vanocur]]
* [[John Yang]]
* [[John Yang (journalist)|John Yang]]
}}


Senators [[Al D'Amato]], [[Lloyd Bentsen]], and [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]] were scheduled to make cameo appearances in the film but withdrew in protest of [[Warner Records]]'s decision to release [[Body Count (band)|Body Count]]'s song "[[Cop Killer (song)|Cop Killer]]." [[NBC]] also prohibited [[Andrea Mitchell]] from making a planned appearance in the film.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Dave|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59500-DAVE?cxt=filmography|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-02|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328094119/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59500-DAVE?cxt=filmography |archive-date=28 March 2019 }}</ref>


==Production==
* [[National Public Radio]] legal correspondent [[Nina Totenberg]] makes a rare on-camera appearance.
Producer [[Lauren Shuler Donner]] and screenwriter [[Gary Ross]] had known each other since taking a [[Stella Adler Studio of Acting|Stella Adler]] class in the 1970s, and in 1988 Ross told Shuler Donner his idea for ''Dave''. Ross wrote the script while working on the [[Michael Dukakis]] [[Michael Dukakis 1988 presidential campaign|presidential campaign]] during the [[1988 United States presidential election|1988 election]], and he was inspired by the [[Iran–Contra affair|Iran-contra affair]]. Ross also received advice from First Lady [[Barbara Bush]]'s press secretary Anna Perez. Shuler Donner approved it, but her employer [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney Productions]] refused to release it while a [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] such as [[Ronald Reagan]] or [[George H. W. Bush]] held the presidency. [[Warner Bros.]] bought the project with the intent to have it directed by Shuler Donner's husband [[Richard Donner]], but he decided against continuing with the project in 1990. Production was delayed by three years to wait for Shuler Donner to be released from her contract with Disney and for director [[Ivan Reitman]] to become available.<ref name=":0" />
* Retired [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|U.S. House Speaker]] [[Tip O'Neill]] appeared, briefly, to give his assessment of the performance of "President Mitchell."
* [[Ben Stein]] is shown attending a house party organized by Bob Alexander.


According to Reitman, Warner Bros. wanted a box office star to portray the lead role and that one executive even suggested [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] to play the part.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dave: Kevin Kline and Ivan Reitman|date=12 October 1993|publisher=[[Special Broadcasting Service]]|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/11702339998/dave-kevin-kline-and-ivan-reitman|access-date=4 February 2018}}</ref> [[Michael Keaton]] was briefly cast in the role but had to drop out. Both [[Warren Beatty]] and [[Kevin Costner]] were also considered for the role.<ref name=":0" /> In fact, it was Beatty who brought ''Dave'' to Reitman's attention. [[Kevin Kline]] almost turned down the role, because he thought he would be playing the same character he played in ''[[A Fish Called Wanda]]''.<ref name=varyking>{{cite magazine|last=King|first=Susan|title='Dave' at 25: Why Kevin Kline Initially Turned Down the Role and Ivan Reitman Walked Away From the Political Comedy|date=7 May 2018|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/dave-25th-anniversary-kevin-kline-ivan-reitman-1202801213/|access-date=23 June 2018}}</ref>
In addition, several [[fiction|fictional]] segments from shows frequented by [[political junkies]] were created specifically for it, including ''[[The McLaughlin Group]]'', ''[[The Tonight Show|The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno]]'', and ''[[Larry King Live]]'' where [[Oliver Stone]] is interviewed by [[Larry King]]. Stone describes a [[conspiracy theory]] that turns out to accurately reflect the developments unfolding in the movie (see plot description above).

Nevertheless, Kline was hired to play the protagonist, as Reitman considered him to have a presidential look and be an actor "who was both dramatically strong and was light on his feet," as Kline would not only be playing a double role, but the film was a comedy that dealt with very serious subject matter. Reitman then called [[Sigourney Weaver]], with whom he had worked in ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', for the First Lady role.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ivan Reitman and Lauren Shuler Donner DAVE Blu-ray Interview | url=http://collider.com/ivan-reitman-lauren-shuler-donner-dave-blu-ray-interview/ | website=Collider | date=24 September 2012 |access-date=10 May 2013}}</ref> Ross was present for production, as he was interested in starting a directing career as well.<ref>{{Cite book | last=Priggé | first=Steven | title=Movie Moguls Speak: Interviews with Top Film Producers | publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] | location=Jefferson, North Carolina | year=2004 | isbn=0-7864-1929-6 | page=92}}</ref>

Filming began on August 13, 1992, in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. White House interior sets were filmed at [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank]] while exterior scenes were filmed at the [[Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden|Los Angeles County Arboretum]] in [[Arcadia, California]]. The film's [[Oval Office]] set was constructed based on a replica at the [[Ronald Reagan Presidential Library]] and would be reused more than 25 times, for television shows and films such as ''[[The Pelican Brief (film)|The Pelican Brief]]'', ''[[In the Line of Fire]]'', ''[[Hot Shots! Part Deux]]'' and ''[[Absolute Power (film)|Absolute Power]]''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news | first=Linda |last=Lee | title=Oval Offices, by Way of Hollywood | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/13/movies/oval-offices-by-way-of-hollywood.html | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=13 April 1997 | access-date=10 May 2013}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
{{Anchor|Box office}}
''Dave'' debuted at number 2 at the US box office, behind ''[[Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title= Bruce' and 'Dave's' Excellent Box Office|work= The Los Angeles Times|date=11 May 1993|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-11-fi-33955-story.html|access-date=26 October 2010|first=Alan|last=Citron}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Weekend Box Office : 'Dragon' Makes 'Dave' Vice President |work= The Los Angeles Times|date=11 May 1993|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-11-ca-34129-story.html|access-date=6 January 2011|first=David J.|last=Fox}}</ref> It reached number 1 in its second weekend. In total, ''Dave'' made $63.3 million in the United States and Canada and $28.5 million internationally for a worldwide total of $91.8 million.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dave.htm | title=Dave |website=Box Office Mojo | access-date=29 September 2010}}</ref><ref name=ww/>

===Critical response===
{{Anchor|Reception}}
''Dave'' was met with critical acclaim. It has a 95% approval rate and an average score of 7.6 out of 10 on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 62 reviews. The critic's consensus states: "Ivan Reitman's refreshingly earnest political comedy benefits from an understated, charming script and a breezy performance by Kevin Kline."<ref name="RT">{{cite web | title=Dave | publisher=[[Flixster]] | work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] | url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dave/ | access-date=25 February 2024}}</ref> It has a score of 76 out of 100 [[Metacritic]], based on 30 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dave |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dave/ |website=Metacritic |access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four. Ebert praised the film's acting and wrote, "''Dave'' takes that old plot about an ordinary person who is suddenly thrust into a position of power, and finds a fresh way to tell it. [...] When I first heard this story line, I imagined that ''Dave'' would be completely predictable. I was wrong. The movie is more proof that it isn't what you do, it's how you do it: Ivan Reitman's direction and Gary Ross's screenplay use intelligence and warmhearted sentiment to make ''Dave'' into wonderful lighthearted entertainment. [...] Both Kline and Weaver are good at playing characters of considerable intelligence, and that's the case here. The movie may be built on subtle variations of the [[Idiot plot|Idiot Plot]], in which the characters skillfully avoid tripping over obvious conclusions, but they bring such particular qualities to their characters that we almost believe them."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dave-1993|title=Dave Movie Review & Summary (1993)|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|date=7 May 1993|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref>

Then-President [[Bill Clinton]] approved of the film, and gave Ross a framed script, which Clinton had autographed, writing that it was a "funny, often accurate lampooning of politics." Clinton also gave Ross a picture of himself holding a ''Dave'' mug.<ref>{{cite web | author=Scott Kaufer | title=Strange Bedfellows | work=Los Angeles Magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XF8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66 | date=March 2000 | access-date=10 May 2013}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
! Ref.
|-
| [[66th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen]]
| [[Gary Ross]]
| {{Nominated}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1994 |title=The 66th Academy Awards |date=4 October 2014 |access-date=2 July 2017 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[American Comedy Awards#1994 awards|American Comedy Awards]]
| Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)
| [[Kevin Kline]]
| {{Nominated}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"|
|-
| Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
| [[Charles Grodin]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards]]
| Top Box Office Films
| [[James Newton Howard]]
| {{Nominated}}
| align="center"|
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[51st Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| {{Nominated}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/dave |title=Dave – Golden Globes |website=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] |access-date=July 5, 2021 |ref={{harvid|HFPA|1994}}}}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| Kevin Kline
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Political Film Society Awards
| colspan="2"| [[Political Film Society Award for Democracy|Democracy]]
| {{Nominated}}
| align="center"|
|-
| [[46th Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Awards]]
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen]]
| Gary Ross
| {{Nominated}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-14-ca-33988-story.html |title='Schindler's' Adds a Pair to the List : Awards: Spielberg epic takes more honors--for screenwriting and editing. Jane Campion's 'The Piano' also wins. |last=Fox |first=David J. |date=14 March 1994 |access-date=3 July 2017 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
|}

==Other media==
===Musical===
A [[Dave (musical)|musical]] based on the movie opened at the [[Arena Stage]] in Washington, D.C., in July 2018. The book is written by [[Thomas Meehan (writer)|Thomas Meehan]] and Nell Benjamin, with music by [[Tom Kitt (musician)|Tom Kitt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arenastage.org/shows-tickets/the-season/productions/dave/|title=Dave – Productions – Shows / Tickets – Arena Stage|website=arenastage.org|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708055851/http://www.arenastage.org/shows-tickets/the-season/productions/dave/|archive-date=8 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/190995/starry-creative-team-to-debut-musical-adaptation-of-dave-at-arena-stage/|title=Starry Creative Team to Debut Musical Adaptation of Dave at Arena Stage}}</ref> The production is directed by [[Tina Landau]] and stars [[Drew Gehling]] as Dave and [[Douglas Sills]] as Chief of Staff Bob Alexander.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/world-premiere-of-dave-musical-starring-drew-gehling-and-mamie-parris-opens-at-arena-stage-july-27# "World Premiere of 'Dave' Musical, Starring Drew Gehling and Mamie Parris, Opens at Arena Stage July 27"] Playbill, 27 July 2018</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of American films of 1993]]
*[[Look-alike]]
* ''[[The Magnificent Fraud]]''
*[[Impersonation]]
*[[Body double]]
* ''[[Moon over Parador]]''
* ''[[Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]]''
*[[Doppelgänger]]
*[[Political decoy]]s
* ''[[Double Star]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{imdb title|id= 0106673 | title= Dave}}
* {{IMDb title|id= 0106673|title=Dave}}


{{Ivan Reitman}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dave (Film)}}
[[Category:1990s political comedy films]]
[[Category:1993 comedy films]]
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:American political comedy films]]
[[Category:American political satire films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films about fictional presidents of the United States]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ivan Reitman]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ivan Reitman]]
[[Category:Films produced by Lauren Shuler Donner]]
[[Category:Films scored by James Newton Howard]]
[[Category:Films set in the White House]]
[[Category:Films set in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Gary Ross]]
[[Category:Films produced by Ivan Reitman]]
[[Category:Films about lookalikes]]
[[Category:United States presidential succession in fiction]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Maryland]]
[[Category:Films shot in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles County, California]]

[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[he:דייב]]
[[Category:English-language political comedy films]]
[[de:Dave (Film)]]
[[es:Dave, presidente por un día]]
[[ja:デーヴ]]
[[ru:Дэйв (фильм)]]
[[sv:Dave]]

Latest revision as of 06:28, 14 November 2024

Not to be confused with Meet Dave.

Dave
Theatrical release poster
Directed byIvan Reitman
Written byGary Ross
Produced byIvan Reitman
Lauren Shuler Donner
Starring
CinematographyAdam Greenberg
Edited bySheldon Kahn
Music byJames Newton Howard
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • May 7, 1993 (1993-05-07)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$28 million[1]
Box office$92 million[2]

Dave is a 1993 American political comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman, written by Gary Ross, and starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver. Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Laura Linney, Ving Rhames, Charles Grodin, and Ben Kingsley appear in supporting roles. Dave was a box office success, and was met with critical acclaim.

Plot

[edit]

Dave Kovic runs a temporary employment agency in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and, as a side job, capitalizes on his remarkable resemblance to President Bill Mitchell by comically impersonating him at events. Secret Service agent Duane Stevenson recruits him to impersonate Mitchell after a speech, ostensibly as a security precaution, but actually to allow Mitchell to meet Randi, a White House staffer with whom he is having an affair.

Dave's appearance goes well, but Mitchell suffers a major stroke while having sex with Randi. His Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander, is inspired to ask Dave to continue in his role. Bob's scheme is to force Vice President Gary Nance to resign by embroiling him in a savings and loan scandal; then Dave, acting as Mitchell, will appoint Bob vice president; then Dave will fake a more serious stroke and Bob will become president. Communications Director Alan Reed is initially hesitant, but eventually acquiesces and tells the press corps the stroke was minor. Claiming that Nance is mentally unstable, Bob and Alan convince Dave he must continue impersonating Mitchell for the good of the country. Nance is sent on a goodwill tour of Africa.

Dave's charm and enthusiasm improves Mitchell's image and popularity. First Lady Ellen Mitchell, who has been estranged from her husband for years, initially suspects nothing and treats Dave with contempt on the few occasions they see each other. When she sees Dave's empathy towards a shy boy at a homeless shelter for which she is a staunch advocate, she begins to soften towards him. Her fury returns, though, after Bob forges Mitchell's signature on the veto of a bill that included funding for the shelter. Dave, after consulting his accountant friend Murray Blum, works with the Cabinet to restore the funding. A furious Bob threatens to destroy Dave, but Alan vows to expose their scheme if he does and all three of them will end up in jail.

Ellen, having witnessed Dave's considerable efforts to save the shelter, tricks him into admitting he's an impostor and asks to see her husband. Dave has Duane escort them to a secret hospital room beneath the White House, where Mitchell remains in a coma. They are told he won't recover. They both resolve to leave the White House, but after spending a night out alone together, they begin to fall in love. Ellen tells Dave she's gone along with the charade of a happy marriage because she thought that as First Lady, she could help people. Dave tells her he wishes he could.

The next day, Dave, still as Mitchell, calls a press conference, making Bob furious that Dave is no longer obeying him. Dave fires Bob, who in turn tries to fire him, but Dave dares Bob to tell the press about the switch. At the press conference, Dave announces a monumental plan to provide a job to every American who wants one.

Nance returns from Africa and confronts Dave for trying to frame him for crimes of which Bob and the real Mitchell are actually guilty. In retaliation against Dave, Bob reveals evidence implicating Mitchell in the scandal, which Alan admits is true. Despite talk of impeachment, Dave refuses to back off his jobs plan, while Bob quietly begins to garner support for a presidential run.

During a joint session of Congress, Dave admits that Bob's allegations are true and produces proof, provided by Alan, that shows that Bob was also involved, and that Nance is innocent. After Dave apologizes to Nance and the country, he fakes another stroke; switching places with Mitchell, he resumes his previous life. The hospital pronounces the "second" stroke as major, and Mitchell continues to lie in a coma for five more months before dying. As acting president and then president, Nance backs the jobs plan, which becomes law. Bob and several Mitchell administration officials are indicted, while Alan continues working in the White House.

Dave runs for the D.C. city council with the help of Murray and his employment agency staff. Dave is surprised one day when Ellen visits. He escorts her into his office, where they share their first kiss. Dave closes the shades to give them privacy and Duane, wearing one of Dave's campaign buttons, steps in front of the door.

Cast

[edit]

Cameos

[edit]
Politicians
Media personalities

Senators Al D'Amato, Lloyd Bentsen, and Daniel Patrick Moynihan were scheduled to make cameo appearances in the film but withdrew in protest of Warner Records's decision to release Body Count's song "Cop Killer." NBC also prohibited Andrea Mitchell from making a planned appearance in the film.[3]

Production

[edit]

Producer Lauren Shuler Donner and screenwriter Gary Ross had known each other since taking a Stella Adler class in the 1970s, and in 1988 Ross told Shuler Donner his idea for Dave. Ross wrote the script while working on the Michael Dukakis presidential campaign during the 1988 election, and he was inspired by the Iran-contra affair. Ross also received advice from First Lady Barbara Bush's press secretary Anna Perez. Shuler Donner approved it, but her employer Walt Disney Productions refused to release it while a conservative such as Ronald Reagan or George H. W. Bush held the presidency. Warner Bros. bought the project with the intent to have it directed by Shuler Donner's husband Richard Donner, but he decided against continuing with the project in 1990. Production was delayed by three years to wait for Shuler Donner to be released from her contract with Disney and for director Ivan Reitman to become available.[3]

According to Reitman, Warner Bros. wanted a box office star to portray the lead role and that one executive even suggested Arnold Schwarzenegger to play the part.[4] Michael Keaton was briefly cast in the role but had to drop out. Both Warren Beatty and Kevin Costner were also considered for the role.[3] In fact, it was Beatty who brought Dave to Reitman's attention. Kevin Kline almost turned down the role, because he thought he would be playing the same character he played in A Fish Called Wanda.[5]

Nevertheless, Kline was hired to play the protagonist, as Reitman considered him to have a presidential look and be an actor "who was both dramatically strong and was light on his feet," as Kline would not only be playing a double role, but the film was a comedy that dealt with very serious subject matter. Reitman then called Sigourney Weaver, with whom he had worked in Ghostbusters, for the First Lady role.[6] Ross was present for production, as he was interested in starting a directing career as well.[7]

Filming began on August 13, 1992, in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. White House interior sets were filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Burbank while exterior scenes were filmed at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia, California. The film's Oval Office set was constructed based on a replica at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and would be reused more than 25 times, for television shows and films such as The Pelican Brief, In the Line of Fire, Hot Shots! Part Deux and Absolute Power.[3][8]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

Dave debuted at number 2 at the US box office, behind Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story.[9][10] It reached number 1 in its second weekend. In total, Dave made $63.3 million in the United States and Canada and $28.5 million internationally for a worldwide total of $91.8 million.[11][2]

Critical response

[edit]

Dave was met with critical acclaim. It has a 95% approval rate and an average score of 7.6 out of 10 on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 62 reviews. The critic's consensus states: "Ivan Reitman's refreshingly earnest political comedy benefits from an understated, charming script and a breezy performance by Kevin Kline."[12] It has a score of 76 out of 100 Metacritic, based on 30 reviews.[13]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three and a half stars out of four. Ebert praised the film's acting and wrote, "Dave takes that old plot about an ordinary person who is suddenly thrust into a position of power, and finds a fresh way to tell it. [...] When I first heard this story line, I imagined that Dave would be completely predictable. I was wrong. The movie is more proof that it isn't what you do, it's how you do it: Ivan Reitman's direction and Gary Ross's screenplay use intelligence and warmhearted sentiment to make Dave into wonderful lighthearted entertainment. [...] Both Kline and Weaver are good at playing characters of considerable intelligence, and that's the case here. The movie may be built on subtle variations of the Idiot Plot, in which the characters skillfully avoid tripping over obvious conclusions, but they bring such particular qualities to their characters that we almost believe them."[14]

Then-President Bill Clinton approved of the film, and gave Ross a framed script, which Clinton had autographed, writing that it was a "funny, often accurate lampooning of politics." Clinton also gave Ross a picture of himself holding a Dave mug.[15]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen Gary Ross Nominated [16]
American Comedy Awards Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) Kevin Kline Nominated
Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Charles Grodin Nominated
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Top Box Office Films James Newton Howard Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nominated [17]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Kevin Kline Nominated
Political Film Society Awards Democracy Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen Gary Ross Nominated [18]

Other media

[edit]

Musical

[edit]

A musical based on the movie opened at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., in July 2018. The book is written by Thomas Meehan and Nell Benjamin, with music by Tom Kitt.[19][20] The production is directed by Tina Landau and stars Drew Gehling as Dave and Douglas Sills as Chief of Staff Bob Alexander.[21]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "AFI-Catalog". catalog.afi.com.
  2. ^ a b "Top 100 grossers worldwide, '93-94". Variety. 17 October 1994. p. M-56.
  3. ^ a b c d "Dave". catalog.afi.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Dave: Kevin Kline and Ivan Reitman". Special Broadcasting Service. 12 October 1993. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  5. ^ King, Susan (7 May 2018). "'Dave' at 25: Why Kevin Kline Initially Turned Down the Role and Ivan Reitman Walked Away From the Political Comedy". Variety. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Ivan Reitman and Lauren Shuler Donner DAVE Blu-ray Interview". Collider. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  7. ^ Priggé, Steven (2004). Movie Moguls Speak: Interviews with Top Film Producers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 92. ISBN 0-7864-1929-6.
  8. ^ Lee, Linda (13 April 1997). "Oval Offices, by Way of Hollywood". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  9. ^ Citron, Alan (11 May 1993). "Bruce' and 'Dave's' Excellent Box Office". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  10. ^ Fox, David J. (11 May 1993). "Weekend Box Office : 'Dragon' Makes 'Dave' Vice President". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  11. ^ "Dave". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  12. ^ "Dave". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Dave". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  14. ^ Ebert, Roger (7 May 1993). "Dave Movie Review & Summary (1993)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  15. ^ Scott Kaufer (March 2000). "Strange Bedfellows". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  16. ^ "The 66th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Dave – Golden Globes". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  18. ^ Fox, David J. (14 March 1994). "'Schindler's' Adds a Pair to the List : Awards: Spielberg epic takes more honors--for screenwriting and editing. Jane Campion's 'The Piano' also wins". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Dave – Productions – Shows / Tickets – Arena Stage". arenastage.org. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  20. ^ "Starry Creative Team to Debut Musical Adaptation of Dave at Arena Stage".
  21. ^ Gans, Andrew. "World Premiere of 'Dave' Musical, Starring Drew Gehling and Mamie Parris, Opens at Arena Stage July 27" Playbill, 27 July 2018
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