Wolff rating: FAIR
Plot summary: Two speechwriters for opposing political camps find themselves attracted to one another in a contentious election.
Biased, pithy comments: Geena Davis is one thing---gorgeous. Sure, you can argue she's too thin or too tall or too perfect or something, but let's face it; she's cute. Thus, you know you're off to a bad start when they give her a bland haircut and dye her auburn hair a uniform chesnut to make her look more businesslike. The political machinations are fantasy and boring without being clever or particularly integral to the story, leaving the bulk of the storytelling on the chemistry between Davis and Keaton. Despite all attempts, I wasn't attracted to their love; it seemed as artificial as the rest of the environment. Given the resemblance to the real-life romance between Democratic attack dog James Carville and Republican wonk Mary Matlin, you'd expect either better humor or more realistic background, but instead it's a professionally-constructed piece of fluff with all the joists visible. Skip, but not without shedding a tear for what might have been (and a few moments when it was---Reeve was funny, though tragically so given that in this version of himself he's still walking around handsome as ever).
Other Notes: So, OK, theoretically the script was originally written while Reagan was in office, and Carville and Matlin were Clinton/Bush androids, but one would have had to be mad not to take a little bit from that grand political story.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Christopher Reeve, Bonnie Bedelia, Ernie Hudson.
Directed by: Ron Underwood