Dick (1999)

So who exactly was Deep Throat, that all-important source who helped Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein bust open the Watergate scandal? Well, according to this thoroughly funny, keenly smart comedy from director Andrew Fleming (The Craft), it was two sweetly daft teenage girls named Betsy and Arlene. Taking the history and figures from Watergate and running gleefully and sacrilegiously amok, Dick offers up a hilarious what-if scenario that takes the Nixon administration's downfall from grave tragedy to hilarious farce. When Betsy (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlene (Michelle Williams) run into a shady figure in the stairwell of Arlene's Watergate apartment building, little do they know they've stumbled upon G. Gordon Liddy (Harry Shearer) on the night of the Democratic National Headquarters break-in. Later, on a White House field trip, they wind up meeting with Nixon himself (Dan Hedaya), who, to ensure their silence, decides to make them official White House dog walkers and "secret youth advisors." Of course, Betsy and Arlene soon find out their idol has feet of clay, and ultimately decide to aid "radical muckraking journalists" (and queasy rivals) Woodward (Will Ferrell) and Bernstein (Bruce McCullough) in their investigation. Fleming and cowriter Sheryl Longin's enfolding of the Watergate scandal is extremely clever and inspired, from Arlene's 18-and-a-half-minute declaration of love on Nixon's tape recorder to the Hello Dolly cookies (laced with a certain herbal stimulant) that help bring about the U.S.-Soviet accord. And after all the angsty-serious portraits of Watergate, it's bliss to see the prime players sent up mercilessly; in addition to Shearer, the cast boasts Dave Foley (Erlichman), Jim Breuer (John Dean), Saul Rubinek (Kissinger), and Ana Gasteyer (Rosemary Woods), all in fine form. Hedaya's Nixon, dead-on but never parodic, is an Oscar-worthy comic turn, and Dunst and Williams invest their characters with affection and humor; the success of the film lies in the way these talented actresses make us laugh with Betsy and Arlene, never at them. Don't be put off by the teen sheen on this comedy--it's also for all of us who still remember Watergate even after 25 years, and still love dancing on the scandal's grave. --Mark Englehart Amazon.com

Loved It!

I am a fan of Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst so that might explain why I loved this light-hearted movie. It's silly but cute. A good movie to watch when your in the mood to laugh your head off. Music is great too! Like another reviewer said, this is definitely a "cult" hit! April 16, 2008

Hilarious Take on A Serious Time in History

I was in 7th grade when this movie came out. My mom and I rented it from Blockbuster to watch it together, and we both loved it! Dick is the story of how 2 teenage girls helped bring down the president. It supposes that a couple of 15 year old girls who had worked for Nixon were really Deep Throat, not someone from inside the government. It may be an absurd notion, but it is extremely hilarious, especially when one of the girls thinks that she is in love with Dick. March 29, 2008

Great tongue-in-cheek history lesson and walk down memory lane!

This movie provides a possible (if not plausible) explanation for the source of the Watergate scandal's "Deep Throat", in a manner that is hilarious, while taking you back to the 70's in a nostalgic walk down memory lane. I bought several copies to share with family/friends... and they loved it too! Dan Hedaya's Richard Nixon is amazingly spot-on, and the actors portraying your favorite villains from the Nixon administration perform admirable impressions of Haldeman (Dave Foley), Liddy (Harry Shearer) and Dean (Breuer) ... not to mention Saul Rubinek's brilliant Henry Kissinger! Top it off with Will Ferrell playing a parody of Bob Woodward in constant battle with his bud, Bernstein (McCulloch), and excellent performances from Kirsten Dunst (well before her Spiderman fame), and Dawson's Creek's Michelle Williams as the teenage sources of Tricky Dick's downfall, and you have the recipe for a FUNtastic movie night! Take it all with a grain of salt, and enjoy poking fun at a historical mystery!! February 11, 2008

Dick

A hilarious, strictly satirical take on the Nixon White House, "Dick" follows the inspired notion that two young teens unwittingly pierced the heart of the biggest scandal in presidential history--without realizing it. Dunst and Williams are endearing as the sweetly clueless teeny-boppers, while character actor Hedaya makes even tricky Dick loveable. Director Fleming never veers into pure parody, opting for a smart, irreverent twist on an iconic cultural moment. July 12, 2007

Historic Hilarity

This movie is genius!! It should be a companion piece to "All The President's Men." The fact the writers used actual historic people, quotes, and events and tied them into this crazy fictional world of a couple of ditzy girls is the most entertaining art imaginable. Kirsten Dunst is wonderful in everything she's done. This is no exception. This movie also proves (along with "Brokeback Mountain") that Michelle Williams can do anything. June 29, 2007

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