Charming and entertaining.

The American President is a memorable, sweet, charming romantic comedy/drama that is wonderfully appealing and entertaining. Because the film was never a massive hit it was vastly overlooked. This isn't the kind of movie that would receive a high status at the box office and become a record-breaking smash hit. Instead the film relies on the appeal of the talent involved; in this case we have director Rob Reiner (most famous for films like Stand by Me, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride) in addition to a host of delightful cast members.

It's a shame that the film was so overlooked because honestly, The American President is a whole lot better than the blockbuster twaddle produced quite persistently of late.

The President of the United States, Andrew Shepherd (Douglas), is a widower concerned with his popularity levels as an election approaches. The environmentalists are concerned with changes in emissions of green house gases. But the environmentalist group doesn't have adequate experience to efficiently battle the issue politically, instead hiring a smart political lobbyist named Sydney Ellen Wade (Bening) to make a mark on the White House. After Sydney first meets the President during a meeting, the two grow increasingly fond of each other. This results in a relationship that subsequently forms scandals that jeopardise Andrew's popularity level with an election that is growing closer by the days.

More than anything else, I was incredibly impressed with the actors that are featured in this film; with Douglas leading the cast in an immensely charismatic performance. I found Douglas appealing and a fantastic U.S. Presidential figure. (I wonder how the White House looked upon his portrayal when the film was first released...) If Douglas was running for president, he'd have my vote. Annette Bening was another wonderful addition to the cast. She makes a perfect companion for Douglas. She's sophisticated and smart, with a very subtle appeal.

The script is very intelligently written and showcases some very intriguing characters. The dialogue was taut and interesting even though it appears that nothing really significant ever happens.

The score for the film is also a great touch; utilising very triumphant, patriotic music during key scenes. The cherry on top is the very talented directing from veteran filmmaker Rob Reiner. As a result of this prize-winning combination I found every second of the movie highly engrossing. One of my only complaints would be the ending that felt a tad incomplete.

The American President is a fantastic comedy/drama. In a nutshell: the film is heart-warming, fun and light-hearted. As a consequence the film scores as an extremely entertaining experience.

I found it interesting that Douglas' portrayal of the President is nice, caring and honourable in addition to taking a strong stance against lying. Jesus, if only!