DAVE

PLOT SUMMARY

Bill Mitchell is a corrupt, self-involved philanderer. He also happens to be the president of the United States. He started in politics as a straight arrow, but over the years went wrong. Lately he's been part of a scam involving the Liberty Savings Bank masterminded by Chief of Staff Bob Alexander, who wants the top job for himself.

In order to skip out of a boring but necessary luncheon, Mitchell has people searching for a body double to briefly take his place. They find their man in Dave Kovic, who runs a temp agency somewhere in the midwest. Dave is brought in and does a good job in this minimal performance. Unfortunately, as the Secret Service man Duane is driving him to the train station, word comes that Mitchell has had a stroke while boinking an aide. The chief of staff is determined to hush this up — so back Dave goes to the White House.

Intensive coaching of Dave begins, done mostly by Press Secretary Alan Reed, Bob Alexander's reluctant henchman — since Alexander tends to come across as an arrogant prick. They tell Dave the First Lady is no problem; she despises Bill Mitchell and avoids him as much as possible. But there are unavoidable pairings, like the long-scheduled visit to a shelter for homeless kids. Dave surprises her by actually caring about the kids, enchanting one loner with sleight-of-hand magic. She begins to wonder if Bill has had a change of heart.

That thought is soon dispelled when the chief of staff forges Mitchell's signature on a bill killing funding for the homeless shelter. She confronts Dave, and refuses to believe he knows nothing about the bill. Dave later calls in his chief of staff and they have an angry confrontation. Alexander advises Dave that he can save his homeless shelter if he finds $650 million somewhere in the budget. "By the way," he says on leaving, "don't you ever summon me again."

Dave calls in a buddy from back home. He and Murray pore over the budget and manage to find things to cut. In a cabinet meeting the next day, Dave runs down the list and comes up with a savings of $656 million. The homeless shelter is saved; an amazed staffer goes to Ellen. "You won't believe what your husband just did," he tells her.

Bob Alexander is incensed when he learns of this development. He stomps into the Oval Office, where Dave is preparing to announce the change at a press conference, and tells him, "You're fired!" "Okay," says Dave. "You can step out that door and tell the press corps." Outmaneuvered, Bob leaves in a huff. This sets up the final confrontation between Dave and Bob. You'll have to discover that for yourself; but I will tell you it's a doozy.

Capsule review: This well-plotted and well-acted comedy stands very well on its own, even in multiple viewings; but the real-world politics of 2018 make its resolution that much more satisfying.