THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (1995)

The American President brings to life a certain, deep, dark fantasy that I used to harbour, which I'm now going to publicly confess. Like so many other American women back in the mid-90s, I had a crush on Bill Clinton. This was back in the pre-Monica days when he was still pretty hot. My fantasy never went as far as becoming first lady, since I was already married, (and let's face it, so was he). Then along came the movie The American President, and I found my fantasy up on the screen and even classier than my own imagination could conjure. Dating in the White House with the eyes of the world on you isn't an easy thing especially when you have a cause that you want the president to support but don't want to compromise your ethics or his.

Picture this: a young, good-looking, liberal minded, widower of a president, Andrew Shepherd, played by Michael Douglas, who runs up against hot-headed, red-headed lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade, played by Annette Bening, both of them in their prime and as gorgeous as can be. He's impressed by her moxie and invites her to be his guest at a state dinner with the president of France and his wife. Sydney arrives, stunning in a royal-blue gown, breaks the ice with the honoured guests by speaking perfect French, and ends up dancing with President Shepherd, just the two of them on the floor, all eyes glued as they flawlessly glide to the music, ala Barack and Michelle. After the big night, he tries, to no avail, to order flowers by phone - the florist won't believe the actual president is on the line. Thus begins their courtship. Dating in the White House with the eyes of the world on you isn't an easy thing especially when you have a cause that you want the president to support but don't want to compromise your ethics or his. The film walks a delicate balance between sexy, sweet romance and political commentary, bringing up issues such as global warming, something that barely had a name in 1995, and gun control, an issue Americans are far from getting a handle on still. But there's no need to be scared that this film is too serious. Crafted by the masterful hand of Aaron Sorkin, screenwriter of such films as The Social Network, and A Few Good Men, and directed by Rob Reiner who always knows how to balance comedy with poignancy, it starts off like a political hard-hitter but quickly charms with its human element. Also, once you see the face of the young Michael J. Fox appear onscreen in the George Stephanopoulos-esque role of presidential advisor, you know it will have a light-hearted edge. Martin Sheen, who went on to play the president himself in Sorkin's wildly popular TV drama, The West Wing, appears as the president's chief of staff. This is a film I've returned to again and again, even in my post Clinton-fantasy years, because it obviously is still a completely relevant, perfectly intelligent, subtly delicious, feel-good flick.

Movie reviewed by Georgina Young-Ellis

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