RUTHERFORD ON FILM: ‘Man of the Year’: Politicians Like Diapers, Change Them Regularly
By Tony RutherfordHuntington News Network Critic
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- Considering the election year, Barry ("Rain Man," "Wag the Dog," " The Natural") Levinson muckrakes the sins of past political parties into an absorbing myth of a comedian winning the Presidency due to computer glitches.
The glitches portion appears credible since numerous articles have been written about the "possibilities" from paperless ballot reporting. Candidate Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams) still has his sharp edginess and often he's striking the intended targets. He's credibly comedic and yawning serious, which maintains his campaign during the first half of the flick.
But this film which tosses reminders of "hanging chads," a brother of the candidate as governor, and faulty tallies adds a mishandled twist -- Eleanor Green (Laura Linney) who uncovered the computer puzzle ends up as the newly elected President's gal and finds herself chased by friends of the company CEO attempting to ensure her mouth stays closed and the stock stay sky high.
I'm inclined to "forgive" the thriller elements, but I have problems with the "on the ballot in 13 states." Apparently, Dobbs' televised candidacy made enough ballots in electoral collage states or the missed detail lies on the cutting room floor. One more matter, Dobbs continues his daily television series during the cross country bus tour. Of course, he could tape a week's worth of shows in a single day. As a "serious" contender, an election "rule" surfaces -- how can the stations airing the show keep airing it and comply with election laws? Maybe, the rules do not apply to cable.
These picky political science quandaries cloud my "suspension of disbelief" more than Linney running around D.C. partially wearing pajamas and rain boots, which merely enhances the irony that the new President-elect loses his heart to the media and corporate shamed addicted stalker lady.
Those dalliances aside, Levinson pairs well with Williams as they mostly target the Gore-Bush Supreme Court carnival, but lay loose a few Democratic slurs too. In fact, "Man of the Year" yields partisanship -- the reoccurring theme sticks with political parties, $200 million dollars in fund raising "bought and paid for" favors to oil, chemical and pharmaceutical lobbyists, including a delicious Enron remark, and the duty of democracy to tolerate irreverent commentary.
Criticism of the administration pounds the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue more than any other, though Dobb’s bachelorhood recalls Michael Douglas’ circumstances in “An American President.”
Williams has many bitingly scorching punch lines ranging from a joke about his singlehood (“the prostitute gave me a refund”) to candidates should wear special interest sponsor tag like NASCAR driver and the clincher, “If it was unpatriotic to question the government, we would still be English!”
Considering the court jester commanding the kingdom premise, perhaps, the drifting finale should not be flagged too harshly. So, instead of dissecting it political and cinematic worth, I’ll do a little side step and titillate you decision of whether to vote for “Man of the Year” by concluding with two acidic and even debatable philosophies: “Irreverence is the champion of liberty” and “don’t put your faith in a [voting] machine.”