My Fellow Americans (1996)

Two former U. S. Presidents, hated rivals, join forces to expose the current, corrupt President at the risk of their lives.

Director:

Peter Segal

Writers:

E. Jack Kaplan (story), Richard Chapman (story)

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, James Garner, Dan Aykroyd

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	President Russell P. Kramer
James Garner	...	President Matt Douglas
Dan Aykroyd	...	President William Haney
John Heard	...	Vice President Ted Matthews
Wilford Brimley	...	Joe Hollis
Lauren Bacall	...	Margaret Kramer
Sela Ward	...	Kaye Griffin
Everett McGill	...	Col. Paul Tanner
Bradley Whitford	...	Carl Witnaur
James Rebhorn	...	Charlie Reynolds
Esther Rolle	...	Rita
Conchata Ferrell	...	Woman Truck Driver
Jack Kehler	...	Wayne
Connie Ray	...	Genny
Tom Everett	...	NSA Agent Wilkerson

Storyline

Kramer and Douglas, two former presidents from opposite ends of the political spectrum, become reluctant allies when they become the target of a conspirator in President Haney's administration. The two ex-presidents realize they have an enemy within the government and set out to find evidence that will clear their names. The search takes them across the Southern Appalachians; along the way they meet a homeless couple, thwart kidnapers in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant, and find themselves marching in a gay pride parade.

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Plot Keywords:

president | former president | ex president | voting results | election returns | 

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Taglines:

A comedy about life, liberty and the pursuit of two ex-presidents.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for salty language and innuendo

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. WB Shop / Warner Archive

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

20 December 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grumpy Old Presidents

Filming Locations:

Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$21,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,860,334, 22 December 1996

Gross USA:

$22,313,201

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$22,313,201

Company Credits

Production Co:

Peters Entertainment, Storyline Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kramer and Douglas were originally written to be younger, with Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman eyed to star. This would have reunited the actors after starring in Hook (1991).

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Goofs

When Douglas, Kramer, and Hollis are questioning Witnaur, Kramer (Jack Lemmon) pulls a semi-automatic pistol, and a cocking noise is heard. The pistol has an internal hammer which is cocked when the slide is racked. It would not make a cocking sound.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Edwin Newman: It has been described as one of the most vicious presidential races in the history of American politics, and one of the closest. The Republican nominee, Senator Russell P Kramer of Ohio, is practically dead even in the polls with his bitter rival, Democratic Governor Matt Douglas of Indiana. To say there is no love lost between these two candidates is a gross understatement. And yet tonight, in spite of their almost overwhelming distaste for each other, one of these men will have ...

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Connections

Referenced in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Meet John Doe (1997)

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Soundtracks

In the Midnight Hour
Written by Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper
Performed by Wilson Pickett
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Presidents Dumb and Dumber...

So many professional actors, so much sophomoric humor. You gotta love it.

"My Fellow Americans" features Jack Lemmon and James Garner as ex-presidents on the run when they discover a cover-up with the present Chief of Staff (Dan Aykroyd) in the middle.

This isn't a movie anyone's going to take seriously, and well they shouldn't. There are lots of moments here that will elicit a laugh or two, maybe three. And what plot there is whizzes by at such a fast pace that there's more time to concentrate on the guffaws.

Lemmon and Garner play their parts as you'd expect. That they go the dumb route is no surprise; in fact, it makes their presence here all the more entertaining. Aykroyd basically plays the heavy here, so there's no real chance for him to generate any laughs. A shame, since he's usually so good at that.

Then there's the fact that real gems like Bacall and Brimley and Ward are just given throw-away parts; it's good to see them, of course, but you'd figure they'd have more to do (especially Bacall!!).

Kudos, though, to John Heard as the dim-witted Vice President. Some of the biggest laughs in this movie (for me) came from him. His eulogy at the funeral scene early in the movie always makes me laugh out, as does his pithy observations such as "Hey, a hat!". Beats me why he isn't in more movies.

As I said, the laughs are there, and if you demand nothing more from a comedy than to laugh, you'll want to do your political duty and rent "My Fellow Americans" - the one movie that insults both parties equally.

Seven stars, plus one extra for putting up an excellent "fakade".