Dick (1999) August 13, 2006
Posted by gproject in : Recently Viewed , trackbackDirected by: Andrew Fleming
What would happen if two teenage girls unwittingly discovered the truth about the Watergate scandal? That’s the question this movie sets out to answer, in a slightly skewed version of the actual events of 1972.
Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams play Betsy & Arlene, the two girls in question, and while they may not be the smartest characters the two actresses add a certain charm to them. They mostly stumble into the plot while on a class trip to the White House, as a stroke of luck lands them the position of official White House dog-walkers. From there they go on to discover mysterious document shredding, suitcases of pay-off money, questionable characters, and secret tape recordings. Of course it takes them a while to piece it all together, but when they do they make it their mission to bring down Dick. Erm, I mean, the president.
This is a dumb comedy, but like Dumb & Dumber or Romy & Michele’s High School Reuinon before it, it knows it’s a dumb comedy and so makes the most of that. Yes, there are plenty of Richard Nixon as ‘Dick’ jokes, and ditzy or giggly moments on the part of the girls, but you can tell what kind of movie this as soon as you see that the bloopers & outtakes on the DVD last twice as long as the ‘making of’ featurette.
I wasn’t overly into this flick, but I’m sure there are plenty of people who would enjoy it if they gave it a chance. It’s especially fun to see some early(ish) movie roles for Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, as well as spotting Harry Shearer as G. Gordon Liddy. I’m just thankful that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
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