MY FELLOW AMERICANS
A film review by Walter Frith
Copyright 1996 Walter Frith
In recent years we have had some humourous and uplifting films dealing with the highest office in the world. 'Dave' (1993) and 'The American President' (1995) are examples of movies done with the look of a Frank Capra classic i.e. 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.' In an age of the anti-politician, 'My Fellow Americans' is the perfect lampoon on the men who often seem out of touch with the people they represent. Republican one term President Russell Kramer (Jack Lemmon) and Democratic one term President Matt Douglas (James Garner) are inadvertently thrown together in a survival for their lives after they uncover a scandal in the current White House where a present day Republican President (Dan Aykroyd) sits. Some great one liners and a few nifty stunts make for good entertainment and it would have been appropriate to entitle this 'Grumpy Old Presidents' as the humour is similar to that of 'Grumpy Old Men' (1993) and 'Grumpier Old Men' (1995) both starring Jack Lemmon. As the movie progresses we see some very serious moments as Kramer and Douglas are put in touch with real Americans who are given the opportunity to explain how their lives have been ruined because of policies the Presidents implemented when they held office. Surprisingly, Jack Lemmon is upstaged by the relaxed and hilariously moody performance turned in by James Garner who settles into his character almost with poetic ease while Lemmon plays his role with stiff uptightness but both profiles work on a professional actor's level and the contrasting personality of the two is convincingly executed. It's the perfect holiday movie which goes overboard at times by being extremely silly but its redeemed by an entertaining climax and a good ending. It's fun watching two actors like Lemmon and Garner who can hold their own with anyone in Hollywood but who have the sense of humour not to take themselves too seriously from time to time.
OUT OF 5> * * * *
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