Classic 90s Movie: “Dave”

May is Classic 90s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Daryl Powell.

Movie Title: Dave

Year: 1993

Writers: Gary Ross

Lead Actors: Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella

Director: Ivan Reitman

IMDB Plot Summary: To avoid a potentially explosive scandal when the U.S. President goes into a coma, an affable temp agency owner with an uncanny resemblance is put in his place.

Why I Think This Is A Classic 90s Movie: I think Dave is a classic movie because it takes a classic theme, the little guy standing up for what’s right against the corrupt powers that be, and delivers it in an entertaining way. Boiled down, it’s David and Goliath which resonates with pretty much everybody. Unless maybe you’re Goliath. It’s funny when it needs to be and serious when it is required. I feel like it’s a better executed version of Moon over Parador.

It has an amazing cast, including Charles Grodin, Ben Kingsley and Ving Rhames in supporting roles. Kevin Klein is capable of both great charm and gravitas when necessary, which makes it easy for him to portray both Dave and President Mitchell.

The biggest thing that makes this movie a classic, though, is the fact that it seems timeless. You could change the movie to take place in any number of decades and it would still work.

My Favorite Moment in The Movie:

My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie:

Dave: I forgot that I was hired to do a job for you and that it was just a temp job at that. I forgot that I had two hundred and fifty million people who were paying me to make their lives a little better and I didn’t live up to my part of the bargain. See, there are certain things you should expect from a President. I ought to care more about you than I do about me… I ought to care more about what’s right than I do about what’s popular. I ought to be willing to give this whole thing up for something I believe in.

Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie: Watch how things grow out of Dave’s desire to help people. He takes the job as the president’s double to help, and extends the job when he is convinced that the country needs him. When he realizes that people need the First Lady’s shelter program, he makes it happen which puts him on a collision course with his nemesis, Bob Alexander.

Thanks, Daryl! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!

We already have a set of 80s Movies. This month we cover 90s movies. So thanks to all of you for your participation in this project, creating a resource for writers, movies they should watch to help learn the craft of screenwriting!

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