What Politics? Romance Provides the Intrigue in ‘President’

In “The American President,” Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), the widowed President of the United States, starts dating an environmental lobbyist (Annette Bening), opening himself up to criticism. (Rated PG-13)

He’s the leader of the free world, a liberal whose politics are undercutting his own ideals, the father of a teen-age girl, and a man who’s vulnerable to “the character issue.” Filmmakers may deny it, but even 14-year-olds could see the resemblance between Andrew Shepherd and the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

“He even kind of looked like him with that hair!” said Mindy Kershnar, 14, of Irvine, referring to Shepherd’s graying, sweptback do.

Not only that, but Bening as Sydney Ellen Wade, the pit bull lobbyist/girl next door in flannel jammies, reminded her of the current First Lady.

“She was outgoing,” Mindy said.

“And strong-willed,” added her friend Nicole Craig, also 14 and from Irvine. “She had her own life. Her life didn’t revolve around him.”

Younger kids were confused by the intricate political intrigue. Shepherd promises to introduce the toughest-ever clean-air bill if Wade can hustle up enough votes, but he winds up using the votes as leverage to help pass an anti-crime bill, which his aides think is too weak because it doesn’t include a weapons ban.

The girls admitted they didn’t know much about politics. But they knew what they liked: a romance between a sharp young woman and a famous, powerful man who’s really a regular guy underneath it all.

The girls didn’t think Douglas, as a button-down chief executive who is forever acting presidential, was too stiff or formal. On their first date, he takes Wade to a state dinner for the French president.

“He can’t be, like, not formal,” Mindy said. “He has to be a take-charge kind of guy to be a President.”

If he had any flaw, it might be that he was too busy.

“I would be really quite bugged if I were her because every, like, 10 minutes, he’s going off to do something,” Nicole said.

“Like, ‘I’ll send you a memo,’ ” Mindy added.

“Like, they’re in the middle of kissing and he gets interrupted by I don’t know how many people!” Nicole said.

In the movie, Shepherd’s adversary Robert Rumford (Richard Dreyfuss) uses the fact that Wade spent the night in the White House to discredit Shepherd.

“The fact is,” Mindy said, “a lot of adults do that. Not all of them. But a lot of them do that, and it’s not a strange thing. Just because he’s President doesn’t mean he can’t have a relationship with somebody. You can’t expect him not to, like, have sexual desire just because he’s President.”

So, this is, like, a romantic fantasy for girls of the ‘90s?

Said Nicole: “To date the President? Sure! And get all that press coverage? Yeah!”

Mindy agreed: “I want to dance and have 200 people watching me! It’s like dating Brad Pitt, a big celebrity guy. He’s famous, and everybody knows him.”

Even, so, they said it was Michael J. Fox, as Shepherd’s domestic policy adviser, and not Douglas, who made their hearts quicken.

As the President’s conscience, the aide urges him to return to his principles, stand up to the National Rifle Assn. and add the gun ban to the crime bill.

Might the current President learn anything from this film?

“It’s a different situation,” Nicole said. “But I think he would enjoy the film.”

Said Mindy: “It might help him understand that he’s a real person too.”