Product Details

• Actors: Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Dan Hedaya, Will Ferrell, Bruce McCulloch
• Directors: Andrew Fleming
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (117 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000021Y7C
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,353 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

So who exactly was Deep Throat, that all-important source who helped Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein bust open the Watergate scandal? Well, according to this thoroughly funny, keenly smart comedy from director Andrew Fleming (The Craft), it was two sweetly daft teenage girls named Betsy and Arlene. Taking the history and figures from Watergate and running gleefully and sacrilegiously amok, Dick offers up a hilarious what-if scenario that takes the Nixon administration's downfall from grave tragedy to hilarious farce. When Betsy (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlene (Michelle Williams) run into a shady figure in the stairwell of Arlene's Watergate apartment building, little do they know they've stumbled upon G. Gordon Liddy (Harry Shearer) on the night of the Democratic National Headquarters break-in. Later, on a White House field trip, they wind up meeting with Nixon himself (Dan Hedaya), who, to ensure their silence, decides to make them official White House dog walkers and "secret youth advisors." Of course, Betsy and Arlene soon find out their idol has feet of clay, and ultimately decide to aid "radical muckraking journalists" (and queasy rivals) Woodward (Will Ferrell) and Bernstein (Bruce McCullough) in their investigation. Fleming and cowriter Sheryl Longin's enfolding of the Watergate scandal is extremely clever and inspired, from Arlene's 18-and-a-half-minute declaration of love on Nixon's tape recorder to the Hello Dolly cookies (laced with a certain herbal stimulant) that help bring about the U.S.-Soviet accord. And after all the angsty-serious portraits of Watergate, it's bliss to see the prime players sent up mercilessly; in addition to Shearer, the cast boasts Dave Foley (Erlichman), Jim Breuer (John Dean), Saul Rubinek (Kissinger), and Ana Gasteyer (Rosemary Woods), all in fine form. Hedaya's Nixon, dead-on but never parodic, is an Oscar-worthy comic turn, and Dunst and Williams invest their characters with affection and humor; the success of the film lies in the way these talented actresses make us laugh with Betsy and Arlene, never at them. Don't be put off by the teen sheen on this comedy--it's also for all of us who still remember Watergate even after 25 years, and still love dancing on the scandal's grave. --Mark Englehart

From The New Yorker

The truth about Watergate, at last. It seems that back there in 1972, two teen-age girls-Arlene (Michelle Williams), who is troubled and melodramatic, and Betsy (Kirsten Dunst), who's a little too slick but a good egg-meet President Nixon (Dan Hedaya) during a tour of the White House and become the walkers of the President's dog. The girls, who have free access to the place, keep stumbling in their ignorance into strange scenes-documents being shredded, flustered aides like Bob Haldeman (Dave Foley) or John Dean (Jim Breuer) scurrying in and out of the Oval Office. The movie attaches foolish fiction to the willing contours of reality: the two ninnies never quite understand what is going on, but they wind up unseating the President. Some of the performers (mainly veterans of "Saturday Night Live" and the Canadian "Kids in the Hall") can be too broad, but this farce, directed by Andrew Fleming (who wrote the screenplay with Sheryl Longin), is genial and funny, and the idea of unconscious goodness flummoxing calculated evil is highly satisfying. -David Denby
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This has cult hit written all over it., February 14, 2000

By	DaveP "dpags" (USA) - See all my reviews

I feel for those who had the unenviable job of marketing this movie. Who do you aim it at? Teens, most of whom know nothing about Nixon and Watergate, or adults, who will dismiss it as being another obnoxious, dumb teen comedy? Hence the box office failure. But what true hidden gem this film is! The writers have managed to put elements into this film that will be able to please the entire spectrum of viewers and knowledge of the Watergate scandal is not at all required to enjoy this hilarious film, but if you happen to have a grasp on it's history, your enjoyment will increase tenfold. The performances of everyone involved are top-notch with special notice going to Dan Hedaya (Nixon dead-on)and Michelle Williams (watch her shy expressions and mannerisms as she develops her crush on Nixon. Priceless!). Many, many scenes left me laughing hysterically (the beach dream scene, Haldeman's interrogation of the girls, Hello Dolly meets Breshnev, Bernstein hovering over Woodward at the Post). Add great music, costumes, sets and a fitting ending, and you've got a great movie experience. Don't miss it! (And for a treat watch this as a double bill with ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN!). If you get the DVD you're in for more of a treat with a hilarious blooper outtake reel (Nixon & Kissinger praying on the Oval Office floor ("Do you want a hug?"), a music-only track, a director & producer commentary track, making-of-featurette and a deleted scene. This is a must-have!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex, Drugs, and Roller Skates; must be the White House, December 2, 1999

By	"addicus" (Fairfield, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dick (DVD)

Dick is a great comedy for adults. Coming off as a kid's movie in previews, I was refreshed and surprised at the caliber of the comedy. Every character is comical genius, all the way down to the stoner, draft-dodging brother. I could not stop laughing at the mad camp adventures of these two clueless DC socialites. I almost broke a rib!

I can't urge you enough to buy this movie. It is defiantly going to be a party house favorite.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The True Story of Watergate?, May 15, 2001

By	Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Dick (DVD)

Dick is a tremendously funny movie that spoofs the gravity of the Watergate situation. It combines fictional characters with the real people who were involved. Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams play two dim-witted 15 year olds, Betsy & Arlene, who unwittingly stumble across G. Gordon Liddy and the Watergate break-in (Arlene lives at the Watergate) after sneaking out to mail a letter to Bobby Sherman. On a class trip to the White House, they again see Liddy and pick up the infamous CREEP list. Through a series of hysterical coincidences, they meet Richard Nixon, become official dog walkers and secret youth advisors, give Nixon cookies laced with marijuana, find the secret tapes, contact Woodward & Bernstein, are revealed to be the actual Deep Throat and provide the key information that takes down Nixon. The movie has a great soundtrack of 70's songs and is filled with authentic clothing and props. The cast is first-rate with Ms. Dunst & Ms. Williams perfectly playing the ditsy girls. They have fun with the roles, acting silly and impetuous as real teenagers would. Dan Heyda plays Nixon with the perfect amount of heaviness and Will Ferrell & Bruce McCullough are an absolute scream as the bickering Woodward & Bernstein. The cast is full of funny people including Dave Foley, Teri Garr, Jim Bruer & Harry Shearer. Dick is a well written, clever, funny and completely entertaining film.