Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts
September 4, 1992
Miramax
Comedy, Drama
VHS
B-

This "documentary" about the imaginary title politician, a "rebel conservative" whose folk singing parodies Dylan, is not exactly dated, in that it's very specifically set 1990-91, so much as it's a time capsule.  It matters that it's not only set in the months leading up to that particular Gulf War, but that this is long before Sarah Palin and the Tea Party and the rest of the more laughable but scary elements of the modern Republican Party.

It stars 33-year-old Tim Robbins, who also wrote and directed it.  His political rival is perfectly cast, Gore Vidal, then 67 but looking older and more tired than that.  (The novelist and essayist was himself the grandson of a senator, and he provides an insider's viewpoint.)  More surprising casting is that of Roberts's power behind the throne, Alan Rickman, as Lukas Hart III, here sounding very American and fast-talking.

I would actually recommend this movie most for the cast.  Not that it's boring or anything, but the satire is never as sharp or as funny as it should be.  When the movie satirizes Saturday Night Live in the guise of Cutting Edge, it's a bit glass-housey, as is some of the political satire.  (The music satire is actually fairly savvy, as in the INXS-like music video.)  The movie also seems to want to be a mystery and a drama, or even a tragedy.  There is some good acting and some hmmm moments, but it's not up there with mockumentaries like Zelig or Spinal Tap.

Allan Nichols was Rough House in Popeye and plays the director of Cutting Edge here.  Brent Hinkley, who's Bif the Patriot here, was Larry in Zapped Again!  Joe Shelby, who has an uncredited role as a doctor here, would be an uncredited bus rider in Dogma.  Bob Balaban plays Michael Janes here and would be Morris Weissman in Gosford Park.  Robbins's long-time partner Susan Sarandon appears as a TV news anchor, while Helen Hunt is a reporter.  This time Peter Gallagher plays Dan Riley.

Both John Cusack (the Cutting Edge host) and Jack Black (obsessed fan Roger Davis) would of course appear in High Fidelity, which would have one of the vigilantes here, Brian Powell, as Middle Aged Customer.  And the screenplay would be by Steve Pink, who's the Penn State Professor here.