Dick (1999) User Reviews

Uproarious

[Varlaam · 7/10 · 8 August 1999]

... for anyone old enough to have seen the Watergate hearings on television the first time around, or who still remembers people telling Bebe Rebozo jokes.

I have no idea how anyone under 35 would react, there were so few at the theatre.

Dave Foley's H.R. Haldeman haircut had me in stitches. You see his scalp; what an unexpected trip down memory lane.

Saul Rubinek was a hoot as Henry Kissinger, although he couldn't quite compare to Paul Sorvino, uncanny in that part in "Nixon".

Everyone's character seemed right on. Exaggerated of course, naturally. Even the two halves of Woodstein, a nice bit of caricature.

The two young girls -- Dunst and Williams -- are stellar. The girls' final action of the movie seemed out of character to me, but that struck the only false note I heard in this funny film.

Daffy and endearing

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 15 September 2015]

"Dick", aside from the inherent laugh value in its title (it's okay, you can admit it) puts an delightful spin on history, suggesting that Deep Throat was actually just two ditzy blondes who got really lucky. Even ten years after we all heard who the mystery informant really was, that's still funny. This whole thing feels like a counterpoint to "All the President's Men", right down to the opening shot (and its explanation for the 18-minute gap in the Nixon tapes was pretty clever).

But this is one hell of a cast (jeez, everyone is in this flick), and the chemistry between Williams and Dunst forms the bubbly and likable core of the movie. If the jokes aren't doing it for you, I guarantee you'll like the Ferrell and McCullough take on Woodward and Bernstein. Not to mention pretty much all of Nixon's staff.

7/10

Lovely comedy! Got to see this.

[vsrinidhi-rao · 7/10 · 23 November 2013]

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.

You suck, Dick!

[lastliberal · 7/10 · 1 January 2008]

This was an absolutely hilarious satire about Richard Nixon and the Watergate cover-up. It was one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time.

Of course, the fact that it had Kirsten Dunst (Spider-Man, Bring It On) as the lead was what drew me to the film, but there were so many great lines, especially those inadvertently said by Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain, The Station Agent). They were just so funny as two airheads that brought down the President.

Dan Hedaya (Shaft, The First Wives Club) was a perfect Dick Nixon.

The only thing that detracted from an otherwise hilarious film was the presence of Will Ferrell and Bruce McCulloch. Ugh!

A good comedy

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 30 July 2000]

This film amy have a few laughs here and there (sometimes more or less), but it is actually (to me) a quirky yet working explanation of most of the questions asked about the Nixon administration and Watergate. For instance, who was Deep Throat (the ultimate question, who were they)? Well, this film suggests that it was 2 teenage girls (wonderfully played by Dunst and Williams) who also may have done a few things. Another example is when the girls are giving cookies to the president and the cookies have a certain "ingredient" to them that might make him paranoid. Funny moments all spread out, and well spread out for the material given. Another good thing about this film is that if teens want to watch this film they don't even need to know the history behind it because it is given in the film. And, if you do know about the whole watergate and Nixon thing before hand, you'll find it even more enjoyable (I bet that Henry Kissinger thought this was the best comedy of the decade). Jim Breuer has a small but significant role as John dean, the counselor to the president (and resigns after a remark by the girls). A-

Hilarious trip down memory lane!

[Julie-30 · 30 December 1999]

I had wanted to see this on the big screen over the summer, but didn't get the chance. I'm sorry I didn't get to see it in the theater - the small screen didn't do it justice!

I was about the same age in the 1972-1974 period as Betsy and Angela were, so I was just as interested in the pop culture references as I in the Watergate story. I sang along with the music, reminisced about the clothes, and laughed until I cried at the antics. 2 thumbs up!

What if "Deep Throat" had been the unlikeliest person imaginable?

[tom-darwin · 7/10 · 9 April 2006]

While mailing a love letter to '70s heartthrob Bobby Sherman, two high school blondes witness the Watergate break-in and, as part of the cover-up, are given jobs as "official White House dog-walkers & youth advisers." As Nixon replaces Bobby Sherman in their hero worship, they become caught up in the shredding, the bugging, the payoffs, and the President's dislike of dogs. An absurdly fascinating premise starts off as well as "The President's Analyst" and promises just as much before losing its way & crossing the fine line into silliness. Dunst, who has the potential of Audrey Hepburn, brings grace, poise & even dignity to the role of twiggy airhead Betsy. Williams has the more interesting role of Arlene, whose unrequited love & heartbreaking loss frame much of the story. The film's strength is the surprising depth of the two girls, who could easily have been caricatures of shallow American teenagers from any generation, and the talent of the two young stars who bring them to life. It's interesting that the film resists the temptation to throw in one or more male love interests, taking the story away from the girls but possibly bringing in the ticket sales that this film deserved but didn't get. Hedaya nearly steals the show as Nixon, fine-tuning the character to stop short of a parody but not scaring us the way Anthony Hopkins did. Arlene's fantasy beach dance with him is a comedy classic, as is the "background check" in which the girls learn, to their horror, that the White House knows all about their overdue library books. When Woodward & Bernstein arrive, the film loses its way. The reporters immortalized by Hoffman & Redford are portrayed as selfish, bumbling nerds--about all the acting range that Ferrell has, anyway--which sadly lowers the film's satirical credibility. The accomplished, talented Teri Garr makes no impact here as Arlene's deliberately clueless mother. "Dick" makes use of light sexual innuendo worthy of a Marx Brothers film. Perhaps, if this had been cruder, it would have brought in more teenaged boys. The title is of course a play on both Nixon's first name and the moniker of the secret source, taken from the first mainstream porn movie, and the dialog makes hilarious use of both. It's easy to see why "Dick" is a marketing challenge: it's too deep for a light chick flick, too light for a satire, both too cute & too sophisticated for a teen movie, with no sex and little action. But it is an original, if not daring effort, so the makers & cast deserve much credit for the effort. The delightful ending of "Dick" redeems much of its faults, but it seems that too few viewers were willing to hang around for that privilege.

Simply not funny

[JohnSeal · 2/10 · 10 November 2000]

Dick, despite a fun performance by Dan Hedaya as the title character and a spot on turn by Saul Rubinek as Henry Kissinger, plays like an unfunny Saturday Night Live sketch. Yes, that is indeed damning with faint praise. Woodward and Bernstein are played like a pair of bitchy drama queens. I'm also REALLY tired of movies that paint the 70s in such candy coated hues...any one who lived through the decade knows they were drab and depressing as hell.

One of the funniest movies I've ever seen

[tsamary · 10/10 · 14 January 2000]

I feel for those who had the unenviable job of marketing this movie. Who do you aim it at? Teens, most of whom know nothing about Nixon and Watergate, or adults, who will dismiss it as being another obnoxious, dumb teen comedy? Hence the box office failure. But what true hidden gem this film is! The writers have managed to put elements into this film that will be able to please the entire spectrum of viewers and knowledge of the Watergate scandal is not at all required to enjoy this hilarious film, but if you happen to have a grasp on it's history, your enjoyment will increase tenfold. The performances of everyone involved are top-notch with special notice going to Dan Hedaya (Nixon dead-on)and Michelle Williams (watch her shy expressions and mannerisms as she develops her crush on Nixon. Priceless!). Many, many scenes left me laughing hysterically (the beach dream scene, Haldeman's interrogation of the girls, Hello Dolly meets Breshnev, Bernstein hovering over Woodward at the Post). Add great music, costumes, sets and a fitting ending, and you've got a great movie experience. Don't miss it!!! (And for a treat watch this as a double bill with ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN!)

Pleasant little film you actually have to watch to follow

[policy134 · 7/10 · 7 December 2008]

On the surface, this seems to be just another teen movie centered around airheaded teenage girls (think Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion). Actually, the two main characters could be Romy and Michelle during their teens.

What happens is that you slowly start to see the sly references to All the President's Men and the director does incorporate those elements from that film quite beautifully into this storyline. Yes, it is mostly played for comedy and some of it is a little bit too far-fetched but the film is essentially a big "What if".

Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams play their parts with just enough goofiness at the beginning that you actually laugh instead of wince. That they behave more like small children than teenagers is kind of baffling at the beginning but you soon understand that they are kind of considered to be freaks by their school mates, so it does make sense that they act that way.

To be honest, I really didn't think that I would like this movie but it helped that I had recently seen All the President's Men. Maybe it's because you have to pay attention that it starts to grow on you.

All of the main characters are kind of twisted and mostly portrayed as dimwits which kind of hurts the thing in the end but as you go along you kind of accept it because this is by no means to be a realistic presentation of Watergate.

So an enjoyable experience but you can definitely see why it doesn't appeal to everybody.

Bunch of good actors making fool of themselves

[SamRag · 3/10 · 19 August 2002]

I don't know why I rent those sorts of films, I never seem to like them. Here they try to create some funny explanations as to the Watergate/Nixon scandal and the mysterious Deep Throat identity. I read somewhere that the film might have been better if everyone would have been serious/more real, while keeping the two girls being the only idiots. That might have been better, as here everyone is just so idiotic and stupid that you just get bored of the whole thing. Most of the extras here are great actors, and I just can't understand what made them want to be part of this fiasco. The humor is only about stupidity, with close to no wit or funny parts at all. I think Hollywood should leave it up to the Brits to make fun of the government as they really know how to do it. Coming from Hollywood it lacks everything, and what is left standing is just another fast scripted, simple minded, under the average popcorn comedy. Do yourself a favor and just miss it! 3/10

Tricky Dick and Watergate in a refreshing light!

[dfranzen70 · 8/10 · 24 December 1999]

Much time has passed since the Watergate scandal of 1974. In the present day, we see so many scandals involving upper-crust politicians (including, but not limited to, the President), that we have become jaded to their importance. In 1974, though, this scandal marked the first time a president's authority and character had been publicly questioned. The two main characters are two 15-year-old girls - one the only offspring of a single mother (who is played by Teri Garr) and the other the only sister in a standard nuclear family, complete with a pothead older brother who's about to be drafted. The events of the times are swirling around these two young ladies, but we see them all through their eyes. Some of us know about the events of the early 1970s because we were there, and others of us know about them through history books or from our elders. But now we get to see these events as they pertain to two teenagers. It's interesting how the basic character of a teenager hasn't changed - these girls dismiss Watergate and Vietnam initially and are more concerned with teen idols, school, and, well, teenager stuff. Admittedly, the plot's a little contrived, but it never makes the mistake of taking itself seriously. One of the girls happens to live in the Watergate Hotel, and late one night they both innocently learn of the break-in. They subsequently get to meet many key Watergate players, including Haldemann, Liddy, Wooodward, Bernstein, Kissinger, and, of course, Nixon himself.

The most amazing thing about this script is that while nothing is really historically revised to tell the tale, the girls' characters are used to supply details of these historical events that may answer some old questions. What happened to the section that Nixon's secretary chopped from the illegal tape? Who was Deep Throat, anyway? The 'answers' to these questions will make you laugh.

As for the acting, it's absolutely perfect. Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams are a real treat as the giggly, naive teenage girls. Their characters are very well-written - at no point do they do something that seems out of character. But the biggest treat of all is Dan Hedaya as Nixon. Some people can do Nixon impressions, and some ARE Nixon. Hedaya captures the feel for the ex-President, from his creepy scowl when trying to be friendly to his state of panic when the truth of the scandal finally set in. He's the best thing going in this film, and possibly should be nominated for his work.

Best viewed by those who lived during Watergate

[sweet_em_sexy · 7/10 · 17 February 2000]

This movie falls into my Romy and Michelle catagory. A film that has no real artistic value, but is so subtle and witty that it is genuinely real. Two brainless girls stumble onto the watergate scandal and become Deep Throat in a few deft moves of stupidity that it can almost be believable. Michelle Williams fills her role much better than any Dawson's Creek episode I've ever seen and Kirsten Dunst seems to grow more and more as an actress in every film she's in. It's hard to believe she's the little girl from Interview with a Vampire. Although I wasn't even alive during the Watergate scandal, I appreciated the movie's humor and wit. Dan Hedaya is hilarious as Nixon, as is Dave Foley's characterization of Halderman. The only part's that are painful are Michelle Williams singing, a scene that made me wince, and the whole singing Hello Dolly sequence. Maybe because I didn't live through it, I didn't find that bit quite as funny, but I do think the film was underrated by many who saw it. Probably better appreciateed by people who lived through it than the teens of today.

TERRIBLE.

[kal123 · 3/10 · 8 August 1999]

Dunst tries desperately to capture Silverstone's magic from "Clueless" and fails miserably. Like nails on a chalkboard. The pace of the film flowed like wet cement. The writing was terrible, the "Dick" jokes predictable, the Nixon jokes done to DEATH before, and the story was SO incredibly boring that I almost walked out. However, since I had read some favorable reviews I stayed to see if a miracle happened at the end.

The only miracle was the rolling of the credits.

oh so clever movie

[cookie-46 · 7/10 · 1 January 2000]

I am not a "Watergate baby" nor did I live during Nixon's presidency, but from reading "All the President's Men" and watching the movie based on it, I can claim to know a bit about the Watergate scandal. At first, "Dick" seems like a really cheesy movie with 2 real ditzy girls - like child's play. But as the movie progresses + more and more starts to develop about Nixon's involvement in Watergate, the level of the girls' ditziness becomes central to the movie. And it's absolutely hilarious how these 2 girls are able to "accidentally" come upon all this stuff for Carl Bernstein + Bob Woodward of the Washington Post. It is such a clever, clever movie.

Hey, it could've happened

[hall895 · 7/10 · 1 May 2011]

What if it turned out the central figures in uncovering the Watergate scandal were a pair of ditzy teenage girls? Is that so outlandish? Well, yes, I suppose it is. But that's what makes it so funny. This movie fills in the gaps in history (including that famous 18½-minute gap) with lots and lots of laughs. The story is implausible and impossible, a series of contrivances one piled on top of another. But in this bizarre alternate universe, one in which the fate of the free world rests in the hands of a pair of dumb blondes, the story works. The movie is funny, charming and thoroughly enjoyable.

Our two ditzes are Betsy and Arlene, played by Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams respectively. They really are a couple of airheads. Arlene is meant to be the more serious-minded of the two. You can tell this because she wears glasses. That's always the way it works in movies, right? Betsy meanwhile is totally out there, a 1970s hippie chick floating on the breeze without a care in the world. Quite by accident Betsy and Arlene lead to the discovery of the Watergate break-in. They're oblivious to this of course. They're oblivious to pretty much everything. But when G. Gordon Liddy, who saw the girls at the Watergate, sees them again as they take a White House tour he's afraid they might know something. Soon the girls are meeting President Nixon himself and they find themselves appointed official White House dog-walkers so that the administration can keep an eye on them. But they end up seeing more things they shouldn't see and hearing more things they shouldn't hear. And ultimately they bring down a presidency. All along the way the laughs come fast and furious.

Dumb though they are it's impossible not to love Betsy and Arlene. Dunst is terrific with her portrayal of the bubbly, flighty, relentlessly charming Betsy. Arlene is slightly more grounded than Betsy (everything's relative) so Williams doesn't have as showy a part to play as Dunst does. But she's very good too. All the supporting players are spot-on as they bring real-life Watergate figures to comedic life. Dan Hedaya's a great, funny Nixon. Dave Foley, Jim Breuer, Harry Shearer and Saul Rubinek all capture their respective White House figures well. And famous Washington Post reporters Woodward and Bernstein are rather hilariously portrayed as bumbling, bickering fools by Will Ferrell and Bruce McCulloch. The more you know about the actual Watergate scandal the more you'll probably appreciate the movie. It definitely helps the movie along if you understand all the sly, subtle references to the real events. But even if you know nothing about Watergate at all the movie still has plenty to offer. Not all the jokes require encyclopedic knowledge of 1970s politics. For example when Nixon invites the girls to call him Dick you just know that's setting up for some cheap, easy, lowbrow jokes later on. But cheap and obvious as they are when those jokes do inevitably come they're still funny. This movie manages to make pretty much anything and everything funny. Dick is an enjoyable nostalgia trip back to the far-out '70s, complete with a totally groovy soundtrack. Who knew Watergate could be so funny and charming?

Hello Dolly!

[Registered_User · 14 August 2002]

Dick is about two ditsy D.C. area teens (Dunst & Williams), who wander off in the White House during a field trip and accidentally walk in on then president Nixon's top-secret Watergate meetings. To keep them quiet, he appoints the duo "Official Dog Walkers". They affectionately refer to him as 'Dick' in return. There are some totally roll-on-the-floor-laughing moments and plenty of drug references (e.g. when they make these cookies called "Hello Dollies" which contain a liberal dose of hash). The treats become instant White House favorites when a meeting of esteemed world leaders all get high and sing the song Hello Dolly! This movie is best viewed when you're with a friend, feeling slaphappy, or 14-years-old. Sure, Dick isn't exactly accurate, but it's funny as hell.

Amusing and harmless

[mattymatt4ever · 7/10 · 20 April 2001]

I was not even born when the Watergate Scandal occurred, so I can't directly relate to the political satire conveyed in the film. Many who were around claim the satire is dead-on and hilarious, though it seemed a little too low-brow and exaggerated at times. Again, I wasn't around during that time period. Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams play dumb blondes, a stereotype that has been done to death in cinema. I have to admit, I'm a bit tired of it and think the joke has run dry, but that didn't exactly ruin the film, in my mind. Also, I felt Saul Rubinek's Russian accent was very unconvincing and drifted heavily.

On a positive note, I did laugh. This film worked for me, for some reason. I guess it's because the gags, though some fell flat, were never over the top. I thought the bit about the marijuana in the cookies was quite funny. "Dick" is not laugh-out-loud hilarious, but it delivers.

I can't say I had an immense knowledge of the Watergate incident after watching this movie, but I don't think it was meant to be a biting satire. It seemed to be more of an SNL sketch version of the scandal. That explains appearances by SNL regulars/alumni, including Will Ferrell and Jim Breuer. And the seventies atmosphere was emphasized--often too much. At times the characters seemed more like they were going to a seventies theme party than they were actually in the seventies.

"Dick" is not a great movie, but it makes good entertainment.

My score: 7 (out of 10)

A dull 3 rating.

[jerry_dean67 · 3/10 · 6 January 2000]

This movie wasn't complete trash, but at the same time it just wasn't going anywhere for me.

Kirston dunst and Michelle Williams I found to be cute and entertaining. However, even their on screen presence could'nt help out this movie.

I turned this movie off after watching it for 45 minutes. The movie was semi-cute, but after 45 minutes it was just dragging on to long for me.

Overlooked and hilarious

[preppy-3 · 8/10 · 15 February 2001]

This was a huge bomb when it came out in 1999--it was badly advertised and disappeared quickly. That's a shame because it's a very fun movie. If ever a film should be rediscovered, it's this one. Two very dumb teenage girls (beautifully played by Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams) in the early 70s, get separated from their tour of the White House, and accidentally meet Nixon. They start walking his dog Checkers and, inadvertently, discover all about Watergate without even knowing it! It sounds silly (and it is) but damned if it doesn't work! Dunst and Williams are totally believable (and very lovable) as the teenagers. Dan Hedaya does a perfect interpretation of Nixon. As for everybody else, I couldn't tell you. I'm no whiz on Watergate and who Nixon's staff was in the 70s. But the script is sharp, everyone has wonderful comic timing and the best bits were done by Will Ferrell and Bruce McCulloch who make Woodward and Bernstein out to be total idiots. Also an excellent selection of 70s songs which always complement the action. The final gag played on Nixon is uproarious! Well worth watching.

Much funnier than I anticipated....stupid title and cover however

[StevePunchard · 7/10 · 5 May 2022]

The story is about 2 high school girls that keep stumbling into presidential situations. This catches the attention of all kinds of people worried they might know too much but really they're just high school girls. The fun is the girls giggling at most everything when everything is actually serious. And of course no one believes their tales of White House experiences.

The girls buy into Nixon, teaching him how to do the peace sign and give him all stars on their wall of fame (replacing Bobby Sherman......so yesterday). Their cookies even become a hit with everyone at the White House. They start to fantasize about Nixon to the point where one says she loves him on tape. But just when things were getting perfect, Nixon turns on them and now they hate him. Two down.

What to do next: "prank calls" "who should we call?" "Shawn Freshman?" "No, we always do him". They instead call the Washington Post to spill the beans on Nixon and reach Will Farrell (+ co-worker) who's a bumbling idiot; they nick name themselves "deep throat".

The feds suspect the girls of knowing too much and start digging around even stealing the infamous cookie recipe; like that's going to tell them anything. The girls endeavor to find dirt on Nixon and come upon a very young Ryan Reynolds for whom one of them asks "do you want to make out" as an opening line to which Ryan responds "sure"; if only things could be that easy.

The girls give the dirt to Farrell +1 (of course they get the Pulitzer) and the rest is history. We also find out the cookies were accidently made with pot....opps!

In the end everything is about roller skating....who doesn't like to do that!

An elongated sketch...

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 29 January 2006]

Failed attempt to turn the Richard Nixon/Watergate years into a quirky comic satire. Two teenage girls in 1972 (Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams) are befriended by the President (Dan Hedaya, acting the good sport) and become his official dog-walkers, but soon they learn their hero is up to no good. Nothing much more than an overstretched sketch, with sketch-like performances, might've been funnier broken up into acts and run on "Saturday Night Live" (although it's no longer so topical). Silly material actually asks us at some point to start taking it seriously (!) which really damages the slapstick end of it. The production design is colorful and there are some scattered laughs, but overall it's more cheapjack than cheeky. ** from ****

Betsy and Arlene Meet the Leader of the Free World

[jhclues · 9/10 · 15 July 2001]

A good movie that deals with a significant event in history can be educational as well as entertaining; film is a powerful medium that can put a fresh perspective on why the world today is as it is, and a movie that does all of that can be a satisfying and memorable experience. And `Dick,' directed by Andrew Fleming, is a satisfying and memorable film that unequivocally does NOT do any of those things. Because it's too busy doing exactly what it was intended to do: Make you laugh. It's a hilarious comedy about the Nixon White House and the Watergate affair that finally answers the questions everyone has been asking since Nixon declared he wasn't a crook. Like what really happened at the Watergate that night and who alerted the authorities about the break-in? Who was `Deep throat,' and why did he use that name? Where did Nixon come up with the idea to flash his famous `Victory' sign? And what was really on that eighteen-and-a-half minutes of tape that got erased?

Kirsten Dunst is Betsy Jobs, a normal, everyday teenager whose best friend, Arlene Lorenzo (Michelle Williams), just happens to live at the Watergate. One night at Arlene's place, the girls are frantically working to finish an essay for Arlene to enter in a `Win a date with Bobby Sherman' contest; this is important stuff-- Arlene just HAS to win, but her entry has to be in the mailbox by midnight. They manage to finish in time and rush out to the mailbox, but as they're hurrying down the stairs and into the parking garage, they inadvertently do and then see something that ultimately-- and history buffs take note!-- has a significant impact on the Nixon administration, and consequently on the course of history. But for Betsy and Arlene, it's only the beginning of their personal involvement with the leader of the free world. And all this time later, who knew?

What makes this movie so good is that it's clever without having to force itself on you; the humor is subtle without being too deep, which makes it accessible to just about everyone, as well as enjoyable. You don't have to think too hard to get it, and it doesn't assault you with slapstick, silliness or the grossness that defines so many comedies involving teens today. There's even a parody of Woodward and Bernstein (Will Ferrell and Bruce McCulloch) that works well, and though it's not among the film's most memorable moments, it is funny.

What is memorable about this movie is Dunst and Williams, and especially Dan Hedaya, whose take on Richard Nixon is a dead-on riot. He's got the body language and the mannerisms down pat, and it's a hoot. And the girls are endearingly frivolous; they've got the looks, the attitude and the spirit of everything Teen, to which they bring a carefree depth to their perception of the world and their place in it, kind of like a younger version of Romy and Michele with the freshness of youth and their whole lives ahead of them.

This is a comedy that will appeal to a wide audience and transcend demographics because it's a multi-generational, nonpartisan, funny film. Teens will identify with Betsy and Arlene regardless of the context, and everyone else will be able to relate to the politics and the era on any number of levels. What's important is that it's presented in a light-hearted way, without malice and with the sole purpose of giving you a good time and a lot of laughs (which it certainly does). And it's good clean fun; parents can watch this one with the kids without any fear of embarrassment, and on the other hand, you can take your grandmother to see it, as well.

The supporting cast includes Teri Garr (Helen Lorenzo), Dave Foley (Bob Haldeman), Jim Breuer (John Dean), Ana Gasteyer (Rose Mary Woods), Harry Shearer (G. Gordon Liddy), Saul Rubinek (doing a right-on Henry Kissinger), G.D. Spradlin (Ben Bradlee) and Devon Gummersall (Larry). An uplifting movie with some bona fide laugh-out-loud moments, `Dick' gives a skewing to a serious event and time, but it does it with reverence, respect and good taste, and it emerges as something of a paean to eternal youth and the indomitability of the human spirit in the face of an ever-changing world. In the end, this is a film that will make your heart light and put a smile on your face. And that, without a doubt, is the magic of the movies. I rate this one 9/10.

Enjoyable Fluff

[Darguz · 6/10 · 20 April 2000]

I think the major plus point of this film was the casting and makeup, especially Dave Foley as Haldeman, Harry Shearer as Liddy and Dan Hedaya as Tricky Dick himself. If you don't know much about the actual Watergate scandal, most of this movie will probably go over your head; but if you remember it, there are a lot of little details and little touches in the film that make for some great chuckles.

You have to remember not to take this movie too seriously -- it's great satire, but the light, mindless variety, not the deep, intellectual type.

Awful

[krusty46 · 2/10 · 23 July 2005]

I actually feel dumber for having watched this film.

I wasted 90 minutes of my life that I could have spent scrubbing my toilet bowl with my toothbrush.

I just kept waiting for something to happen to make it all worth while, but other than getting to watch the 2 female leads running around for an hour and half (only reason it got a 2)there was nothing of value. It gave me a headache watching two giggling girls that were being forced into roles in history. What made it even worse for me watching it now is that Deep Throat has already been revealed, so it just made the film even dumber and more insignificant. Save your time and watch something else. Not even worth a rental. Not even for fans of Kirsten Dunst or Michelle Williams.