My Fellow Americans

A political comedy set in America. Kramer and Douglas are two former presidents. One took office after the other and they detest each other. Both are retired. They write books, give lectures, and are after money. A corruption case comes out. A bribe from a defence contractor reaches the press. The current president is in danger. His deputy finds a solution: the crime will be pinned on one of the former presidents. A document is produced and Kramer's signature is forged. Both of them become targets at the same time. They meet at a funeral. Then they are taken away by helicopter, and the helicopter comes down. From there the film becomes a road story. Two old men have to cross the country with armed men after them. The journey is by lorry, by train and by bus. A campsite, a factory, a parade and a motel. What the narrative is interested in is not politics but contact: neither man ever spoke to an ordinary person while in office, and on the road they do it for the first time. A worker tells them what he thinks. The scene is built as comedy but the narrative's real argument is there. The two characters come from opposite poles. One is conservative, one liberal, and the film mocks both equally. The friction between Jack Lemmon and James Garner carries the film. Neither of them stops talking. The tone is light. The narrative does not take the corruption seriously and the ending ties up entirely too easily. Jack Lemmon, James Garner, Dan Aykroyd and John Heard are in the cast. Peter Segal directed. Who it is for: anyone who likes road films and two veteran performers playing off each other. Who it is not for: anyone expecting political satire; the film never really touches an institution and the plot comes too easily.