Review of W. (2008) by Jonathan H — 17 Aug 2010

In October, 1962, comedian Vaughn Meader channeled his dead-on John F. Kennedy impersonation into comedy gold when his satirical record The First Family proved a smash success?until the president was assassinated a year later. To this day, when listeners hear the tracks from this album-regardless of how funny-they doubtlessly think of the tragedy and not the satire. W. leaves a similar taste in John Q. Filmgoer?s mouth?the audience is still simmering amid the most unpopular administration in modern history as the film plays out. Overall, the film proves somewhat rousing and thought provoking. Though the titular performance is a spot-on impersonation, however, the uneven presentation is not strong enough to withstand the invited scorn of those watching.

In the PG-13-rated W., viewers are treated to a loose interpretation of the struggles and triumphs of President George W. Bush (Brolin) leading up to his decision to invade Iraq.

Though the story is, at times, searing, the script mostly handles Bush with surprising fair-handedness. So many of the laughs come out of events that, if not taken directly from a documented occurrence, are something wholly plausible given the gaffe-ridden political speaker in question. The editing, however, remains mismatched. Because the film was shot in such a short amount of time, the overall picture does not reek of the over-directed flourishes of, say, director Oliver Stone?s Natural Born Killers. Shown out-of-sequence, the comedic parts are supposed to add up to sum-thing alternatively tragic?the War in Iraq. But the off pacing makes the final act feel too much like a funeral dirge.

Bottom line: Bush-whacked.