message in the movies By Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader

          
Man of the Year  Rated PG-13
Directed by Barry Levinson. 
Starring Robin Williams, Christopher Walken  

Photos © Copyright Universal Pictures
At this time of the year when political ad campaigns are running fast and furious, it is more than a little interesting that you really can’t trust the television ads for “Man of the Year”.  First of all, the movie is a lot funnier than the ads would have you believe.  And, then, sadly, the film is also unfocused, messy, and frustrating.  Tom Dobbs (Williams) is a television satirist (somewhat similar to Jon Stewart of cable’s “The Daily Show”) who is encouraged by viewers to consider running for President of the United States.  Dobbs is honest enough and smart enough to say some of the things that partisan politicos might shy away from – such as the connection between big business lobbies and Senate bills – and he is also an inherently decent person (the most interesting aspect of this story).  So far, so good.  This could have been the “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” for the new millennium.  Unfortunately, a whole bunch of things go wrong with the movie after the first 30 minutes.  There is a subplot involving malfunctioning voting machines that is presented (rather unconvincingly) as a straight-ahead thriller.  Then there’s poor Laura Linney, a very good actress shackled with moving this part of the movie along.  (A scene with a drug-addled Linney ordering a cappuccino is actually quite funny out of context.)  Christopher Walken, as Dobbs’ manager, seems so bored with the material that he renders what borders on a self-parody of everyone who’s ever tried doing a Christopher Walken impression.  And then there’s the political commentary itself – liberal, mild and unexciting.  The film concludes with a major cop-out that should be disappointing to even those sympathetic to its bare bones plot.  Writer-director Levinson is a talented guy who has also had his share of clinkers.  America needs a Presidential candidate like Tom Dobbs.  But someone needs  to get Dobbs a better platform.  I recommend that you vote “absentee” for “Man of the Year”. 

Pitchfork Rating: Three halos. A somewhat pedestrian political satire, with some real heart but not much bite.)  One pitchfork (For mild sexual innuendoes, some mild swearing, with one occasion of strong profanity.)

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