Dick (1999)

Story of two girls who wander away from a White House tour and meet President Nixon.

Director:

Andrew Fleming

Writers:

Andrew Fleming, Sheryl Longin

Stars:

Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Dan Hedaya

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kirsten Dunst	...	Betsy Jobs
Michelle Williams	...	Arlene Lorenzo
Dan Hedaya	...	President Richard M. Nixon
Will Ferrell	...	Bob Woodward
Bruce McCulloch	...	Carl Bernstein
Teri Garr	...	Helen Lorenzo
Dave Foley	...	Bob Haldeman
Jim Breuer	...	John Dean
Ana Gasteyer	...	Rose Mary Woods
Harry Shearer	...	G. Gordon Liddy
Saul Rubinek	...	Henry Kissinger
Devon Gummersall	...	Larry Jobs
Ted McGinley	...	Roderick
Ryan Reynolds	...	Chip
G.D. Spradlin	...	Ben Bradlee

Storyline

Comedy about two high school girls who wander off during a class trip to the White House and meet President Richard Nixon. They become the official dog walkers for Nixon's dog Checkers, and become his secret advisors during the Watergate scandal.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | white house | dog walker | president | watergate | 

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Taglines:

The unmaking of the president

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor, drug content and language

Details

Country:

France Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 August 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aventuras en la Casa Blanca

Filming Locations:

Lawrence Park C.I., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,210,267 (USA) (6 August 1999)

Gross:

$6,241,697 (USA) (3 September 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+ Droits Audiovisuels, Pacific Western, Phoenix Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Helen and Roderick tell Arlene how they met they talk about how they literally crashed into each other and how they said to each other "your peanut butter is in my chocolate and your chocolate is in my peanut butter". This is a reference to the 1970's commercials for Reese Peanut Butter Cups which told us how they were invented.

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Goofs

According to the director's commentary, President Richard M. 'Dick' Nixon's meeting with Leonid Brezhnev actually took place in Russia.

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Quotes

Arlene Lorenzo: So you really think that my dad could be alive?
Betsy Jobs: Alive and famous! It makes perfect sense, he was probably married or something and your mom had to keep it a secret to protect his reputation. I mean, he's probably out there right now, his heart breaking because he can't reach out to the one person who truly maters to him. His darling daughter.
Arlene Lorenzo: My life is so tragic!
Betsy Jobs: Or it could be worse! What if... years from now you get married and find out that your finacee's dad is your dad, too, and you two ...
[...]

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Connections

References Coleslaw Warehouse (1992)

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Soundtracks

"Crocodile Rock"
Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Performed by Elton John
Courtesy of Mercury Records Limited
By Arrangement with Universal Film & TV Music

User Reviews

Tricky Dick and Watergate in a refreshing light!

Much time has passed since the Watergate scandal of 1974. In the present day, we see so many scandals involving upper-crust politicians (including, but not limited to, the President), that we have become jaded to their importance. In 1974, though, this scandal marked the first time a president's authority and character had been publicly questioned. The two main characters are two 15-year-old girls - one the only offspring of a single mother (who is played by Teri Garr) and the other the only sister in a standard nuclear family, complete with a pothead older brother who's about to be drafted. The events of the times are swirling around these two young ladies, but we see them all through their eyes. Some of us know about the events of the early 1970s because we were there, and others of us know about them through history books or from our elders. But now we get to see these events as they pertain to two teenagers. It's interesting how the basic character of a teenager hasn't changed - these girls dismiss Watergate and Vietnam initially and are more concerned with teen idols, school, and, well, teenager stuff. Admittedly, the plot's a little contrived, but it never makes the mistake of taking itself seriously. One of the girls happens to live in the Watergate Hotel, and late one night they both innocently learn of the break-in. They subsequently get to meet many key Watergate players, including Haldemann, Liddy, Wooodward, Bernstein, Kissinger, and, of course, Nixon himself.

The most amazing thing about this script is that while nothing is really historically revised to tell the tale, the girls' characters are used to supply details of these historical events that may answer some old questions. What happened to the section that Nixon's secretary chopped from the illegal tape? Who was Deep Throat, anyway? The 'answers' to these questions will make you laugh.

As for the acting, it's absolutely perfect. Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams are a real treat as the giggly, naive teenage girls. Their characters are very well-written - at no point do they do something that seems out of character. But the biggest treat of all is Dan Hedaya as Nixon. Some people can do Nixon impressions, and some ARE Nixon. Hedaya captures the feel for the ex-President, from his creepy scowl when trying to be friendly to his state of panic when the truth of the scandal finally set in. He's the best thing going in this film, and possibly should be nominated for his work.