it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Fun movie. Just don't think about the impossibilities. Secret Service breaking the law to hide the switch after the stroke. Doing it for an affair is one thing, making Dave President is another. All the staff who kept the switch secret. Too many people involved to keep it quiet. Doubles are not exactly alike, except in movies, TV, or books. In President's Cabinet scene where Dave is restoring money for homeless shelters, he is breaking the Constitution. Presidents can't just move money around at will since each department has its own appropriation. Congress would have to vote to rescind money from one department's appropriation and vote a supplemental appropriation to the gaining department. This would normally take months.

Dave (1993): Dir: Ivan Reitman / Cast: Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Ving Rhames, Kevin Dunn: Wonderful film with Kevin Kline portraying the United States President as well as a caring look-alike who helps people find jobs. This man is Dave and he impersonates the President for fun but when the real President suffers a stroke while in the midst of an affair Dave is brought in to duplicate him. The greedy and corrupt chief of staff wishes to avoid the worthy Vice-President stepping in. Dave accepts this position but notices cold vibes from the First Lady as well as great wrongs in priorities and sets out to make a difference. Director Ivan Reitman makes the film surprising and pleasant. This is quite different from previous films he has directed such as Ghostbusters and Stripes. Kline engages viewers with two roles while Sigourney Weaver is smart as the First Lady. Rather than surrender to tacky romantic clichés the screenplay renders their relationship intelligent and witty. Frank Langella is superb as the ruthless chief of staff in what could have been just a standard villain. Ving Rhames plays a bodyguard advocating duty and honor. Again the role avoids standard clichés for sincerity. Kevin Dunn plays the Communications Director who ends up having a chance of heart when he realizes that Dave is a good man. About the difference one can make if he believes enough in the truth. Score: 10 / 10

Ivan Reitman directed this winning comedy that stars Kevin Kline as Dave, a temp agency manager who just so happens to be a dead ringer for the President. One day, after impersonating the President at a luncheon, he finds himself stuck in the part after the real President has a stroke while having an affair with an aide... In order to avoid scandal(and save his career) White House Chief Of Staff Bob Alexander(played by Frank Langella) persuades Dave to continue the impersonation, but doesn't count on Dave enjoying his new "job", and becoming quite popular with the public as a result of his new policies! Of course, this can't last forever, and a plan is put forward to save the situation, and stop Bob. Sigourney Weaver plays the First Lady, and Ben Kingsley plays the Vice President. Charming and funny film turns its far-fetched premise to its advantage, and result is most appealing.

Dave is directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Gary Ross. It stars Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames, Ben Kingsley, Tom Dugan, Charles Grodin and Laura Linney. Music is by James Newton Howard and cinematography by Adam Greenberg.Dave Kovic (Kline) is an ordinary Joe type of guy who just happens to look like the current president of the U.S.A (also played by Kline). In fact he makes a little extra cash on the side of his Temp Agency business by impersonating the president at openings and such. When president Mitchell suffers a stroke, the White House Chief of Staff Bob Alexander (Langella) instills Dave as the president so as to feather his own ambitions to become President...It's actually a joy in this day and age to go back and visit a comedy like Dave, for it proves to be refreshingly simple. It's a case of being honest comedy that is well written, a story that in spite of the undoubted preposterousness of plotting, carries you along by the sheer willingness to put a smile on your face. True, clichés are rife, but it isn't fishing in the toilet bowl for its laughs, or beating you over the head with raucous shouty antics so beloved by the MTV generation.A great cast is assembled for the fun, led superbly by the talented Kline in a role that so easily could have been over done in a lesser comic actor's hands. Helps as well that Kline can do good drama, so when the film inevitably turns into serious mode, and politico posturing gets a caustic once over, the transition is handled expertly. Weaver is pure charm, finding great chemistry with Kline, Langella wonderfully stomps around in chief villain mode, Dunn and Rhames score high and Grodin as usual owns the brief scenes he is in. While an Oliver Stone cameo scene is sheer brilliance.There is no pushing the boundaries of comedy here, and it wasn't trying to outsmart the 1990s cinema goer, it's simplicity supreme and as honest as the day is long. Which quite frankly is sometimes all you need in this big hurry up world of today. 8/10