Truly Dreadful Film

Better than most people think

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Keep humor legal, that's my motto. Those viewers with any memories of 1972 will enjoy the harmless situational humor in "Dick." A few time line errors in music (Van McCoy and others). Chances of the brother being drafted in 6/72 were remote as nation prepared for all-vol army July '73. Nonetheless a fun flick. Saul Rubinek as Kissinger. My favorite character actor Dan Hedaya as RMN. DC scenery. Will Farrell as Woodward. The eighteen minute gap explained-- at long last! Writing is sound. Actors apparently had fun. G.D. Spradlin as Bradlee. And so on. "Dick" has stood the test of time. Viewers will love it.(There-- that's ten lines. Really dumb policy-- causes a writer to pad review.)

This is a thoroughly enjoyable comedy. And yes, this is a "what might have happened" type of movie, so please don't get your knickers in a twist as you watch how two teenage girls got involved in the Watergate scandal.These girls are visiting the White House on a field trip and they end up meeting president Nixon because of taking a wrong turn in one of the corridors. They become official dog walkers and the president's "secret youth advisers". Without realizing it, these girls are deep into the Watergate scandal and they become a source for the two reporters who revealed it all. I loved the way in which the script interleaves with actual events including the 18 1/2 minutes of blank tape - that was the best!!!One of the other reviewers mentioned that it is best enjoyed if you are 35 or older and I am inclined to agree with that viewpoint. If you do not have an understanding of the Watergate scandal and it's impact on American politics, then you wouldn't enjoy this movie. To quote another reviewer, this is truly a "hidden gem". My actual rating for this is a 6.5.

Dick is among one of the most charming satires of the nineties that I have seen, mainly because it does not stew in its indulgence and its leads are glowing and magnetic, making the film almost instantly win. The story behind those characters is intriguing nonetheless, involving the famous "Watergate scandal" that plagued and eventually ruined Nixon's presidency. It is also fitting to mention that Dick finally clears up the missing minutes from the "Watergate tapes" that any history buff or aspiring satirist would find hilarious.Betsy Jobs (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlene Lorenzo (Michelle Williams) are almost like the female renditions of Beavis and Butthead. They are two young and naive fifteen year old girls, residing in the Watergate complex, who sneak down one night to mail a letter, securing the door with duct tape, only to evade getting caught because, conveniently, a group of burglars had broken in and were apprehended instead.The next day, the girls' class tours the White House, and the two get separated, overhear important, confidential conversations between officials, and eventually go on to meet the man himself, President Richard Nixon, played by the ever-so-talented and hilariously over-the-top Dan Hedaya. Nixon grows concerned about how much the girls know about this secret scandal, and kindly offers them the job of becoming the official White House dogwalkers, walking Checkers every day. They can't refuse - they are smitten by Nixon. Call him "Dick." The film then connects all of the Watergate pieces together; how the scandal become known, how the tapes were discovered, the story of "Deep Throat," and how two bumbling reporters (Will Ferrell and Bruce McCulloch) would become famous. All these pieces are put together to assure sly, devilishly intriguing satire of unbelievable proportions.Both Dunst and Williams are one of the two key reasons why Dick is so buoyant and a capable satire. They ignite electric chemistry, immediately giving providing us with an overwhelming feel of hip sassiness, not to mention just their total confidence with this material. Let's just hope their fans will be attracted to this unique, extraordinarily different material. It worked for The Virgin Suicides, if we're talking about Dunst.The second reason why the film maintains such a favorable status is Hedaya's exceptionally witty performance as Richard Nixon. Right down to his haircut and accent, Hedaya throws himself in this role, completely cementing the film's wonderful charm and essence. But let's not overlook that screenplay by Andrew Fleming and Sheryl Longin, which manages to direct itself away from satirical dead-ends, overwrought dialog, and complete heavy-handedness. This is certainly one of the feistiest, most intelligent pieces of comedy from the nineties.Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Michell Williams, Dan Hedaya, Will Ferrell, and Bruce McCullouch. Directed by: Andrew Fleming.

I am a history teacher and if I tried to spot all the anachronisms and historical mistakes, this film would drive me crazy. However, it's all intended as good old silly fun and I had no trouble letting go of my usual habit of spotting the goofs.The film is like combining a dopey teen comedy (such as CLUELESS) with history--in this case, the last years of the Nixon presidency and all its scandals. Again and again, these Forrest Gump-like airheads stumble into one plot after another and accidentally trigger the events that led to the exposure of the Watergate conspiracy. The film begins with the girls stumbling into G. Gordon Liddy during his burglary of the DNC office and culminate with their giving Dick Nixon a rousing send-off at the end of the film.Of all the silly situations in the film, I particularly liked the movie's explanation for the missing 18 and 1/2 minutes on the Nixon tapes as well as the way Woodward and Bernstein were portrayed. However, these are just two of many silly and cute moments.Overall, a great laugh--particularly for those old enough to notice all the references in the film (such as the plumbers and Checkers--who was a Cocker Spaniel, not a pointer, by the way).A word of note--parents may want to think twice about having younger kids watch this movie due to its many crude references (after all, the film is named "Dick"--it should be expected) as well as drug use and glorification.