Man of the year

[Tempest19]

Release Date: October 13, 2006
Starring: Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, Lewis Black, Jeff Goldblum

Plot Summary:

What would happen if one of the nation's funniest men became its leading one? Oscar® winner Robin Williams reunites with the director of "Good Morning, Vietnam" to answer just that question in the comic tale of an entertainer's accidental rise to power, "Man of the Year."

Acerbic performer Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams) has made his career out of skewering politicians and speaking the mind of the exasperated nation on his talk show. He cracked scathing jokes at a fractured system night after night...until he came up with a really funny idea: why not run for president himself?

After a flip comment, Dobbs ignites a grassroots movement that puts him on the ballot. Hot on the campaign trail, he debates elected drones and says exactly what frustrated voters have often thought. Nov. 2nd later, the muckraker wins--only to learn that a computer voting error gave him the victory. With time ticking on the inaugural clock, Dobbs has a big decision to make: should he go back behind the mike or stay in the Oval Office?

This election season, comic actors including Laura Linney, Christopher Walken, Jeff Goldblum and Lewis Black join Williams in a pulled-from-the-headlines comedy. Together with Oscar® winner Barry Levinson ("Rain Man," "Wag the Dog"), they'll show the world that--only in America--a comedian can become the country's next president and our "Man of the Year."

Trailer (quicktime)
Official Site
Tom Dobbs 'political site'
COMING SOON: Interview with Levinson, Williams and Linney

Can't wait. Comes out this week. Huge Robin Williams fan, yes- I even liked 'RV'. Davison has done great work in the past- 'Good Morning Vietnam' and 'Wag the Dog'. Current buzz is that it's a mix between 'Dave' and 'Wag the Dog', both are great comedy political films, so can't wait to see it this week.

 

[The Chairman]

Williams, Walken & Goldblum?

I might check it out.

 

[James"007"Bond]

Looks ok.

 

[Matt]

I gotta admit, its cast is brilliant, plus I love the premise. It looks like Robin Williams finally has a decent script again. I'm gonna see it.

 

[Max J Power]

I gotta admit, its cast is brilliant, plus I love the premise. It looks like Robin Williams finally has a decent script again. I'm gonna see it.

That's basically what I was going to say.

 

[Fran]

Robin Williams is a comedic god.

 

[CConn]

The premise is fantastic, and it looks like - at least from the clips and previews I've seen - it doesn't seem like it's overly bias in any of it's satire, which is always refreshing, and Robin Williams is obviously one of the best.

I think I'll wait for some reviews to come in before I decide on it, but at this point, it looks really good.

 

[Cinemaman]

Have no interest.

 

[Swordmaster]

"I did not have sex with tha woman. But I wanted to."

Yeah, I'm seeing this

 

[Bruce_Wayne29]

I'm a huge Robin Williams fan so I'm looking forward to this.

 

[The Shape]

Yeah, this looks pretty decent. I'll probably see it.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Hmmmm, I'm skeptical. All three actors (Williams, Walken and Goldblum) have done some real clulkers. I'm not even sold on the premise, which sounds rather cliche (Underdog runs for President and wins...we assume). It might be a good comedy, but it just seems kind of silly.

 

[P.B.&Chocolate]

I don't usually like Robin Williams but this looks intresting.I really want to see I good comedy so I hope it is somewhat decent .

 

[xwolverine2]

Robin Williams is a comedic god.

exactly........

however i saw RV and that movie was a piece of ****

 

[Matt]

Hmmmm, I'm skeptical. All three actors (Williams, Walken and Goldblum) have done some real clulkers. I'm not even sold on the premise, which sounds rather cliche (Underdog runs for President and wins...we assume). It might be a good comedy, but it just seems kind of silly.

From the previews it seems he does win and half the movie is him dealing with being president. I think the premise is brilliant. What would happen if someone like say...Jay Leno or Dave Letterman ran for president? Would their popularity carry them into the White House? And if so, what would the results of that be?

 

[MulligaN Stew]

Jeff Goldblum? He's alive?

Robin Williams is funny when he has a good script, but I don't see what's so great about his stand-up. His last HBO special was pathetic; he telegramed current event jokes - remind you of a wide chinned late night talk show host - and looked like he was struggling with his material.

I'd heard about this movie also, but the only positive for me is Christopher Walken. Still, as others mentioned, we enjoy these actors when they get it right, but their filmographie each have their low points. Very low.

 

[KingOfDreams]

Robin Williams is not only hilarious but is a great actor. And the plot seems interesting. Looking forward to it.

 

[Poetic Chaos]

The premise is what's making me skeptical. Plus is his comedy is too big for my tastes. I hate watching that guy on talk shows. Always goes off.

 

[blind_fury]

Anybody remember "Bulworth" (1998)?

*crickets chirping*

 

[ShadowBoxing]

From the previews it seems he does win and half the movie is him dealing with being president. I think the premise is brilliant. What would happen if someone like say...Jay Leno or Dave Letterman ran for president? Would their popularity carry them into the White House? And if so, what would the results of that be?

Yeah, but it's not the first time the idea of celebrity President has been done (hell Reagan is the real life version). Several movies have tackled the average joe outsider President concept already.

Frankly it's just kind of a lame premise though. He acts like an idiot, jokes around and becomes President. That concept doesn't really excite me. Just seems like a pretty standard comedy "Daily Show the movie" type deal.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

I'm going to be on that s**t like white on rice.

 

[KingOfDreams]

Anybody remember "Bulworth" (1998)?

*crickets chirping*

I like that movie.

 

[Jack O'Lantern]

I'll probably see it.

 

[Mee]

Looks good to me, I'll check it out unless I hear alot of bad reviews.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Looks good to me, I'll check it out unless I hear alot of bad reviews.

It seems all of us who hoped for a golden Robin Williams comedy can phone it in.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/man_of_the_year/ 17% on RottenTomatoes. (Usually I would not go by reviews...but at the current 17% it is scoring lower than Employee of the Month and the Guardian).

When he said "I did not have sex with that woman, I wanted to" I really figured this movie was going to flop. Who the hell makes Clinton jokes anymore.

Anyways, your thoughts. Is this a downer for you? Or is this what you expected?