Man of the Year Review

By Alex Conde

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

            I’ve long been saying that if you give many of today’s comedy actors a decent script, they’ll turn out something that can make you laugh.  Those laughs have been lacking from a number of recent comedies as good actors are hampered by weak scripts and remakes of weak concepts from the past, however, sometimes good actors are given a chance.

Man of the Year is a good example of what happens when you give good actors a half decent script.  While the movie has a bad habit of recycling older jokes at times, it takes five solid actors (Robin Williams, Lewis Black, Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, and Jeff Goldblum), puts them in a film with a unique concept that has something to say.  This comedy has what many lack, an actual message.  While at times that might detract from the laughs in the film, it lets Man of the Year actually hold some claim to the rare title of “an intelligent comedy”, which means it’s worth seeing for that alone.  Written and directed by Barry Levinson, the movie harkens back somewhat to the political comedy Wag the Dog from 1997, with which he was also involved.

            Tom Dobbs (played by Robin Williams) is the host of a political talk show, and the central character of the movie.  He’s paired up with his manager, Jack Menken (played by Christopher Walken), and his writer Eddie Langston (played by Lewis Black).  The movie follows Dobbs from his initial impulse to run for president in order to make a point, all the way to the White House when he actually wins.  Eleanor Green (played by Laura Linney) is the voice of reason that challenges Dobbs.  I’d say more about her character, but it would spoil the movie for you.  The movie even crosses over into Saturday Night Live, showing an episode of Weekend Update with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.  Jeff Goldblum, playing the evil attorney Alan Stewart is an entertaining counterpoint to the plot and gets laughs even though his role is more serious.

            While none of the cast involved had their best comedic performances with this movie, it’s a strong comedy that plays off the strengths of the actors involved instead of hobbling them with a weak and impotent script.  Instead of aiming at the lowest common denominator, it shoots a little higher, and I feel it hits the mark quite effectively.  It has an original concept, and for anyone who’s politically aware, it puts forth an idea of politics that is far more entertaining than what we currently see.

            While there was potential for this movie to be more than it was, it still managed to be a good story that brought forth some genuine laughs.  Since that’s all that I ever ask of a comedy, I definitely recommend it.