Review of Wag the Dog (1997) by Kevin R — 29 Mar 2015
War is show business.
The president is involved in a sex scandal just before his re-election campaign. A spin-doctor is hired to cover up the mess and help the president get re-elected. He decides to work with a Hollywood producer to create news stories, coverage, and interviews to make it look like we are at war. As the fake war unfolds, the producer gets antsy to receive credit for his work with the spin-doctor tries to keep the story under wraps as those in the know reveal themselves as well.
"A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.".
Barry Levinson, director of Good Morning, Vietnam; Rain Man; The Natural; Sleepers; Bugsy; Man of the Year; Disclosure; Envy; an dYou Don't Know Jack, delivers Wag the Dog. The storyline for this picture was just okay and reminded me of a less intense Argo. The script was fairly well written and the acting was very good. The cast includes Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Denis Leary, Willie Nelson, Kirsten Dunst, Woody Harrelson, and Andrea Martin.
"Of course it's real. It's on TV.".
Wag the Dog is a movie I was never really that interested to see, but decided to give a shot when I came across it on HBOGO. It was as I expected, similar to Be Cool, a nice group of actors and a silly plotline. The cast does deliver their characters well and they are fun to see in their element, but the overall film is just okay. I recommend seeing this once, but I wouldn't pay to see this picture.
"You want me to produce a war?".
Grade: C+.
This review of Wag the Dog (1997) was written by Kevin R on 29 Mar 2015.
Wag the Dog has generally received positive reviews.
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