Robin Williams, Under Control (Review of "Man of the Year"

Time ^ | 10/6/2006 | Richard Schickel

[dave k]

The political satire Man of the Year is watchable, but it might have been so much more.

Robin Williams is a dangerous guy. Or maybe he and the people who make his movies just think he’s a dangerous guy. There is an unwillingness to just let him rear back and spritz for the length of a movie — as if they fear we, in the audience, will grow tired of his gift, often amounting a form of genius, for surrealistic free-association. They are always giving us, as writer-director Barry Levinson does in Man of the Year, tastes and tidbits of Williams in full cry, the while looking for calming cutaways, subplots and diversions that will permit us respite from his mania. All too often this material is sanctimonious and sentimental, humanistic drivel, and doing it Williams often seems shifty, looking for love in all the wrong places.

Levinson, for whom Williams did a memorable turn in Good Morning, Vietnam almost 20 years ago, does not make that mistake in their new film; Williams is no worse than agreeable when he’s not being flat-out funny. In Man of the Year Williams plays a cable show comedian named Tom Dobbs—sort of a Jon Stewart on speed—spouting liberal-minded socio-political criticism. One of his fans proposes that he run for President, and before you know it he’s on the ballot in enough battleground states to pose a threat to the establishment candidates. He devastates them in a televised debate and wins the election.

[dave k]

I saw the preview for this a few nights ago on TV, and just shook my head in disbelief. Talk about a liberal's wet dream...a talk show host (ala Jon Stewart) who becomes President due to a glitch in the electronic voting machines...

Let me guess - this will be yet another political movie that will intersperse left wing talking points while the bad guys will be visual metaphors for 'evil Republicans'.

Hollywood needs to quit recycling the same formulated politically themed 'comedies' - they just ain't funny no more. Pardon me if I pass this movie in the discount bin at the video store a year from now and still not pay the marked down sale price of $2.99 to own this waste of celluloid.

[umgud]

Robin Williams is a punk. Never have liked him.

[Califelephant]

I saw the preview too and agree 100%. "Goofball becomes president" has been done to death. And there wasn't ONE funny line in the commercial.

[wideawake]

as if they fear we, in the audience, will grow tired of his gift, often amounting a form of genius, for surrealistic free-association

I would have described it as his curse.

[wideawake]

Indeed. Like that movie Dave wherein the President decreed a law mandating "good jobs for everyone."

[BelegStrongbow]

I agree. Think TIME would have approved if Jeff Foxworthy had played the part? I think not, of course.

Should add 'Media Deathwatch' to the title of this one.

[Rummyfan]

There is an unwillingness to just let him rear back and spritz for the length of a movie — as if they fear we, in the audience, will grow tired of his gift, often amounting a form of genius, for surrealistic free-association.

Maybe it's just me but I have never gotten RW's genius.

That and the fact that he makes these movies exalting the family, while in real life he dumped his wife and mother of his children for his kids' nanny.

And that his last ten flicks have been unwatchable.

[sine_nomine]

He is a genius at not making me laugh.

I agree with the old comics. The younger ones can only do blue stuff, but that's what people want, I guess.

[coder2]

Good grief ---- another Jesse Ventura !!!

[dave k]

Lot's of misses with him lateley - of course, I have to admit that I did get a few chuckles out of "RV" (flame away!)

[RayStacy]

When I was a wee lad of 15? 16? and Mork and Mindy was on TV, I suddenly understood gun control, for if that hairy little freak had ever come anywhere near me and a gun... He was so incredibly awful, with his stupid faces (Jim Carrey) and his f&*^ing "nanu, ninu"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I kept thinking "I must be a genius, because I'm the only one smart enough to think this shouldn't be funny even to a five year old."

[Libertarian444]

He has a great topic in Man of the Year—a smart and unlikely Everyman , an outsider used to speaking truth to power, who now has power to speak populist truth (and disgust) to the powerless, focusing their inchoate needs and longings from the bully presidential pulpit.

[thegreatbeast]

I wouldn't piss on Robin Williams if his heart were on fire.

[dmz]

I would have described it as his curse.
_________

Why?

[dave k]

Didn't Rob Reiner do both "Dave" and "American President"?

Gawd, I hated the preachiness of both of them...

[evets]

He's a barking moonbat.

But he did entertain our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
so I say God bless him.

[PeterFinn]

Hollyweird is all out of new ideas, aren't they?

[wideawake]

Because his "free association" is annoying and unfunny.

[dmz]

Think TIME would have approved if Jeff Foxworthy had played the part?
___________

I enjoy Foxworthy, but as an actor, comedian, whatever, Jeff would not be able to keep up with Robin Williams for more than 15 seconds. I'd be very surprised if Jeff were to disagree.

[dollar_dog]

Williams' campaign contribution history.

$118,000 to Democrat, $0 to GOP