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My Fellow Americans - 1996
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Today is Election Day in the good old USA. So, I thought that 1996's "My Fellow Americans" would be an appropriate choice for today's blog entry. The story follows opposing side ex-presidents as they must work together to clear their name from a scandal.
The film's cast includes Jack Lemmon, James Garner, Dan Aykroyd, John Heard, Wilford Brimley, Lauren Bacall, Sela Ward, Bradley Whitford, James Rebhorn, Esther Rolle, Conchata Ferrell, Connie Ray, Michael Pena, Ann Cusack, and Marg Helgenberger.
Former US President Russell Kramer is a Republican. After his term in office ends, he spends his time writing books and making personal appearances. He gets fed up with this particular appearance, taking issue of the fact that he has to dance with a panda. "The point is I was president of the United
States. I don’t dance with animals," he says angrily.
After Democratic President Matt Douglas leaves office, he spends his time writing his memoirs and getting divorced. He also finds himself romancing as many of Washington's ladies as he can.
The two men can't stand each other. On a joint appearance, they can barely keep it together in public, trading pointed verbal barbs at each other at every opportunity.
Eventually, both ex-presidents are made aware of a scandal with particularly damaging repercussions for President Kramer. Kramer is anxious to make the story go away, and Douglas is anxious to capitalize on the information. What they both don't know is that all of this scandal leads back to the highest office in the land and its current occupant.
When Kramer tells his wife what's going on, she can't believe it. And Kramer wants to know exactly who would benefit for seeing him go down for something.
Eventually, both men get into trouble when they meet with an informant and he is shot dead before their very eyes. They have to get out of there quickly!
While trying to figure out what to do at Kramer's house, Secret Service agents arrive and tell them that they've got to be moved to Camp David for a meeting.
Unfortunately, the chopper carrying them blows up. Thankfully, neither of the men were hurt, but they both realize that someone wants them dead.
Kramer and Douglas are now on their own in search of information that will clear their names. Along the way, they encounter adventure as they've never known it before. They hop a train and end up having to jump off of it when they discover they've been followed. Unknowingly, they hitch a ride with a group of illegal immigrants. And they spend time with a regular American family who is struggling in the wake of some of the decisions the former presidents made when they were in office.
The two men also rent a car for the first time. They get into a pretty hilarious car chase with the feds.
Things heat up when they catch up with one of the men trying to frame them. Kramer doesn't hold back during interrogations.
And before our story ends, we see the two men infiltrating the White House itself. They host a tour for tourists and end up galloping across the lawn on horseback as they attempt to clear their names.
When all is said and done, the two men decide they are better together than apart. They decide to run for office as a team. The trouble is they can't decide on who will be president and who will be vice-president. I'll let you find out for yourself.
Cast rundown:
Jack Lemmon..........................President Russell 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
Bradley Whitford.......................Carl Witnaur
James Rebhorn.........................Charlie Reynolds
Esther Rolle..............................Rita
Conchata Ferrell........................Woman Truck Driver
Connie Ray...............................Genny
Michael Pena............................Ernesto
Ann Cusack..............................Erica
Marg Helgenberger....................Joanna
And that's it for My Fellow Americans. This movie was originally written with the roles of Russell Kramer and Matt Douglas intended to be younger. Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman were in consideration for the parts. However, the decision was made to cast older actors, and Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau were slated to be the stars. However, due to illness, Matthau had to withdraw from the film and he was replaced by James Garner.
One of my favorite moments in the film comes when Russell Kramer is telling about a spread of food he was served at a party. The look on Kramer's face is priceless as he's describing the dip for the broccoli.
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