Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

Filipe Neto There are some movies that almost look like prophecies. In this film, a highly popular comedian leverages his fame and notoriety to create an independent, largely Internet-based support platform, through which he launches an election run to the White House.The film debuted in 2006, isn't one of the best known in Robbin William's filmography but remains very pertinent and current if we take into account the latest developments in US politics, and the election of the current president, Donald Trump. Like the protagonist, Mr. Trump had no prior political experience and used all of his fame and notoriety to reach the presidency. Both are outsiders, who apply to please those who are tired of conventional politicians. Curious, is not it?Williams is good in the lead role, which is basically the typical comic character that he knew how to do very well. So, without surprises, he stands out and does a very good job. Behind him, we can see a competent cast of supporting actors. Laura Linney is, perhaps, the actress whose character is more within a dramatic profile. Its around her that a conspiracy revolves around, preventing an electoral error from becoming public and ruining all future prospects of a large technology company. Christopher Walken, for his part, plays a clever political aide with an eye for the show.

sddavis63 I found this movie to be ... awkward. It wasn't bad. There are parts of it that are actually quite good. But it struck me as what you might call overly ambitious. There are basically two movies here. They're certainly connected; in fact in the context of this movie they're inseparable. But they're very different stories, and the combination of the two was - again - awkward.After what I thought was a pretty slow start with what was a rather lengthy narration style opening from Christopher Walken, playing Jack Menken, who was the manager for Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams), the movie started out really well. Dobbs is a political satirist, a la Jon Stewart. On his TV talk show he skewers politicians and rants against the system, and then suddenly and unexpectedly declares his candidacy for President of the United States. Starting out as a serious campaigner, he cuts loose as the political satirist he really is during a televised debate, his campaign catches fire and he gets elected, to everyone's surprise. This was working for me - and it was working really well. It wasn't outrageously funny, but it was a wonderful poke at the system, and I was seriously looking forward to seeing Dobbs poking the system from inside as he takes over the Oval Office.Then comes the awkwardness, as a completely unnecessary storyline gets introduced. The United States was trying out a new computer-based voting system. Now, I may not be an American but I'm familiar with the American electoral system. That's almost impossible. Each state runs its own version of the presidential election in its own way according to its own rules. To expect that every single state would sign on to this system is ridiculous. But that's the story. It then moves on to the fact that a computer glitch is what got Dobbs elected. You know what? I really wanted him as the legitimately elected President - a poke in the eye to the system from the voters. But he's not. The company that developed the computer voting system wants to cover the glitch up of course. So what if the glitch screwed democracy - it will hurt us in the pocketbook if people find out. But Eleanor (Laura Linney) - who works for the company - doesn't agree, wants to go public, and so the company sets out first to discredit her and then to eliminate her. So what started out as an enjoyable and light-hearted political satire becomes a political thriller about an electoral conspiracy. That could make for a good movie on its own, but to tie it in with the first part of the movie, where Dobbs gets elected in a huge upset was - I'll say it again - awkward. Both stories had a lot of potential. Because of the hybrid nature of the movie, neither story reached its full potential.To give credit where credit is due, though, Robin Williams was, I thought, superb in the role. He seemed credible, sincere and completely believable. I'm not always a big fan of Robin Williams; this movie was one of the best performances I've seen from him. Linney was good; Walken was probably underused. The movie's not bad. I just think it tried to do too much, and it would have been more fun and more interesting and maybe more thought-provoking if the whole political thriller angle had been dumped and we could have seen Dobbs actually and legitimately behind the desk in the Oval Office. (5/10)

eric262003 Over the past couple of years, Robin Williams has played a variety of roles that have been outside of his spectrum. He's played roles that were either dark, disturbing, but to me didn't sit very well for that matter. Let's face it, comedy is in his veins and though his intentions to break from type-casting is okay to some extent, but his heart is really in comedy and his more better roles are in the comedic spectrum. In "Man of the Year" Williams has the opportunity to exhibit his versatility as both a comedic actor and could also tackle some of the more serious issues in the movie quite compellingly. Sure Williams looks a little odd sporting a Bicentennial wig and dressed like he's about to star in the musical, "1776", but don't let this poster fool anyone. There is a lot of realism about the happenings in our political system which can be easily used as manipulative force for an exhilarating exhibition of comical writing.Robin Williams stars as Tom Dobbs who hosts a political talk show much in the tradition like Bill Maher. When an audience member suggests that he runs for President, Dobbs feels obligated in doing it even though his manager Jack Menken (Christopher Walken) and his writer Eddie Langston (Lewis Black) are a bit uncomfortable with his decision. Dobbs is at his wits end with the government overrunning civilians who have to pay off these sycophants just ease their way into Presidency and these high-empowered bigwigs who promise they'll help the lower classes get back on track, when really they're just using their wealth for themselves for their own purposes. Granted Dobbs can be a capable individual to run the White House as anybody would and the public media seem to have his support. As a member of the Independent Party competing with both the Republicans and the Democrats and emerges victorious with a flawless victory.Like all good things, there are few obstacles that are in the way of Dobbs' glory. A new computerized voting apparatus is programmed by programmer Alan Stewart (Jeff Goldblum) and his assistants Eleanor Green (Laura Linney) and Danny (David Alpay). Eleanor uncovers a bug in the computer system that claims that Dobbs never actually won the election and now she has the reluctant task of telling Dobbs the truth and how he and staff will react to it. The direction of the way the film progresses, you just want to support Dobbs all the way and let him keep his job as the President.The casting was very uplifting the juxtaposition between comedy and political satire handled by director/writer Barry Levinson deserves a standing ovation and I think if a person has enough time, they should see this movie for themselves. It's not only rich in comedy but has a serious back story of how the political system operates in the United States and Robin Williams demonstrates that he can still play funny man with a serious outlook coming against the corruption that bestows upon the political community. Also Laura Linney was dynamic in her role as she never ceases to amaze me.

Jackson Booth-Millard I saw one of the posters for this film, where the leading star is dressed like George Washington, so the concept was going to be obvious, and one that I was willing to try, from director Barry Levinson (Good Morning, Vietnam; Rain Man). Basically Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams) is the host of a satirical comedy politics talk show, and someone jokes in the show that with his quick wit he could run for President of the United States in the up and coming election. He thinks to himself that he could actually do it, and he becomes the independent candidate, and he almost deliberately shows himself up as a questionable candidate, and he makes for good viewing. So it comes to the day of the election, there are small but doubtful to happen hopes that Tom does actually win the election, against Democratic Incumbent President Kellogg (David Nichols) and Republican U.S. Senator Mills (David Ferry), but to everyone's surprise, he does win. He and everyone around him, including his sick manager Jack Menken (Christopher Walken) and Eddie Langston (Lewis Black), are pleased with the result and happy to see him shake up politics as the new President elect. His luck may be about to change though, because Eleanor Green (Laura Linney), who was removed from her job at Delacroy, the private company with rising stocks that created the new computer system for votes to be cast, has discovered a glitch. The voting computer made the mistake of believing the votes for Dobbs counted on the fact that the other two candidates have double letters in their names too, i.e. Kellogg = two Ls and two Gs, Mills = two Ls. After going temporarily mad, being drugged by men sent by her slimy boss Stewart (Jeff Goldblum), she struggles to get this information out, but she does eventually reach Dobbs and explains the glitch. Even being told that she took drugs and stuff, Dobbs is pretty sure that Eleanor is telling the truth that he is not the true elected President, and the conspiracy is becoming more hyped with Eleanor trying to be killed to shut her up. In the end, Tom steps down as President, explaining the glitch to the world, but his actions work for the better, the right man is made President (not great, but good), Stewart is arrested for hiding the information, and Tom goes back to hosting his now higher rated show with Eleanor working beside him. Also starring David Alpay as Danny, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Williams makes for good viewing with his comedic stand up skills coming into play as he rises to the high rank, and Linney is effective as the pressured and at risk programmer. I myself liked the turn from comedy to conspiracy thriller when it happens, the idea of a comedian becoming President is very good, it blatantly picks on the fact that actor Ronald Reagan did it, it could have covered more ground, but it is a likable film. Okay!