(1999)
3
Karl Williams
This singular blend of political satire and teen farce from writer/director Andrew Fleming could more effectively utilize its hugely talented and amusing supporting cast. While leads Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst are convincing as the film's Bill & Ted-style bubble-headed heroines, they're not particularly funny. Fleming focuses too much on his vacuous leads, leaving such gifted actors as David Foley, Ana Gasteyer, and Harry Shearer struggling for screen time as they bring to life far more interesting takes on real-life historical personalities. Particularly disappointing is that more is not made of the story's inventive take on Carl Bernstein (Bruce McCulloch) and Bob Woodward (Will Ferrell), who are depicted as vainglorious, preening, and dim. Fleming is onto something here, as he re-imagines history through a skewed, modern lens, resulting in the sort of satirical film that National Lampoon should be doing. Because it spends too much time dawdling with main characters too mentally absent to develop (possibly in an effort to appeal to a teen audience that's non-existent for such a period film), Dick must be chalked up to a near miss, in spite of its most promisingly warped premise.
Dick on AllMovie
Dick (1999)
