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This film isn't always laugh out loud funny, so much as ironic. But I did scoff, snicker, and chuckle enough times to agree that it is a comedy, although it also has some strong dramatic elements, and a couple of hints of thriller. Plot in a nutshell: think Jon Stewart runs for president, and wins due to a computer glitch. The woman who finds the glitch is set up and fired from the company that makes the computer voting program, and maybe worse. The comedian cum politician learns from this woman that the glitch exists, and has an moral crisis (yes, this is where the film becomes unbelievable, heh). I don't think this movie would have been quite as good as it was without the great cast. Robin Williams is, of course, over the top - you can see smoke emanating from his ears during the serious parts of the film, but it makes sense with this script; it works. Laura Linney is great, again - I really like her work. And Christopher Walken is Christopher Walken. There's nothing else to say on that score. All of the supporting actors come together nicely, and the casting always seems appropriate. Anyway, the main reason I like this film is that it's one of the very, very few pieces of political satire that manages to remain somewhat neutral toward real-world politics. Both sides (Democrats and Republicans) get their share of bearing the brunt. I may be unique in thinking this, but I get very tired of so-called comedies that end up being stages abused for the purpose of laying out the writers' personal politics, and attacking those whose politics differ. Man of the Year is advertised as a comedy, and it actually was one - not a Michael Moore documentary with a laugh track inserted (like some so-called comedies these days). I definitely recommend you see this film. It's not going to change your life, but it's light-hearted, and pretty darned good. My kind of movie!Read full review
Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams) is a talk show host and political satirist who becomes really fed up with the presidential candidates in the upcoming elections. He doesn't like either candidate and thinks both are bad for the country. So, in a momentary decision, he announces that he will be a candidate for president. Aside from some laughter and jokes noone tahes him seriously, but he soon finds out that there are a lot of other people out there who agree with him. All of a sudden he is showing strength in several states and now, with a tour bus and many speaking engagements, a lot of people are starting to notice him. He gets invited to a debate and ditches all of the political rhetoric and goes after both candidates with jokes and sarcasm calling a spade a spade. The debate is out of control and millions of people now are seriously backing him. Eleanor Green (Laura Linney) is a computer program trouble shooter for Delacroy Industries. They have invented a computer system for voting that revolutionizes the balloting process. In one final test just before the election, she discovers that there is a flaw in the program and that the machine is not accurately compiling the votes. When she tells her boss, Jeff Goldbloom, he tells her to keep quiet about it because there is not time to correct it. Probably the error is very minor and nobody would ever know. When the election is held, Tom Dobbs is only on about twenty states ballot, entering too late to get on more. Something screwy happens though, when Dobbs begins to accumulate so many votes that he is actually leading in early voting. He winds up winning several states in the East, and by the end of the night is declared the winner of the Presidential election. Eleanor goes to her boss and Delacroy himself to declare that the results were incorrect. She is repaid by being drugged, discredited, accused of being a drug addict with a nervous breakdown and eventually they try yo kill her. Tom Dobbs really doesn't know what to think about this, never thinking that he could possibly win. In typical Robin Williams style he jokes and quips and uses one liners throughout his visit to Congress, dressed an George Washington, and his visit to the White House too. Eleanor Green gets into a few functions and eventually tells Dobbs about the problem. If he keeps quiet and she says nothing, nobody will ever know there is a problem, but his conscience won't just let it go. She is almost killed in a staged accident and with Dobbs coming forward the mistake is found, It was a glitch in the program that set up a default to the "BB" in Dobbs. This was a pretty good movie.Read full review
Very good Robyn Williams movie. Robyn is at his best with his comedy. There is a small love story intermingled with the story line. The premise of the movie does make you wonder just how the new electronic voting booths will work for the future. Story is based on Robyn Williams as a popular Talk Show host that "In Jest" states to more or less vote for me as President. America takes that statement to storm, or so you think. An employee for the company that makes the voting machine stumbles across a glitch in the new software that can make or break how the counting is done based on the name of the people running. She does the right thing and notifies the next in line - to find out that she was terminated from the company. Robyn Williams finds out by the fired employee how he was really chosen as the President, and he does the next real coarse of action, and the person next in line is then rightfully selected as President.Read full review
I'm not much of a Robin Williams fan but 'Man of the Year' is his quit entertaining. It's funny and touches on some of the real problems with politics. It doesn't try to sway you in your political views but at the same time recognizes the hypocrisy in our Government officials. Robin has a fine performance in his role of an "average Joe" sick of the BS in our political system. Once he learns he is not alone he embarks on an improbable task of being elected President. Enroute to his election you see the comedic brilliance of Robin Williams as he obviously improvises in several scenes.
Not A Comedy As the Trailer Made It Out To Be.... But a thoughtful and moving film. We figured to have a Robin Williams comedy to watch last night, instead it turned out to be a hybrid movie... not for sure what genre to place it in! Robin turned in an excellent performance. Christopher Walken played a good role as his manager. Laura Linney came across well as the pivotal person in the election. Jeff Goldblum played a bad corporate executive very well. The plot was believable, the action kept the movie going. A pretty good flick considering it wasn't what we thought it would be!
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