Dick
"He was tricky. They were better."
Two bored high school girls skip a class trip to the White House and stumble into President Richard Nixon's orbit. They strike up an unlikely connection with the former commander in chief and end up taking care of Nixon's dog Checkers, a situation that thrusts them into the inner workings of the... Read more
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About Dick
Two bored high school girls skip a class trip to the White House and stumble into President Richard Nixon's orbit. They strike up an unlikely connection with the former commander in chief and end up taking care of Nixon's dog Checkers, a situation that thrusts them into the inner workings of the presidency. What begins as mischievous curiosity soon balloons into a wacky backstage tour of power, as the teens sneak through corridors, flirt with staffers, and crash a staff meeting just to see how things run. They witness the ritual chatter of advisers and press briefings, all while trying to stay out of trouble. Set against a backdrop of real historical moments, the film blends coming of age humor with political satire and a persistent sense of mischief.
Directed by Andrew Fleming from an original screenplay by Sheryl Longin, Dick arrived in 1999 as a cheeky political comedy. The film stars Kirsten Dunst as Betsy Jobs and Michelle Williams as Arlene Lorenzo, with Dan Hedaya portraying Richard Nixon and Will Ferrell delivering a sharp supporting turn as Bob Woodward, plus a few cameos from real press figures glimpsed in the background.
With a budget of 13 million, the movie grossed about 27.5 million worldwide, showing solid performance for a late 90s teen caper. It drew audiences curious about a humorous look at a famous political moment and the era's mood.
Critics greeted the premise with light, easygoing humor, appreciating how the film blends coming of age vibes with political satire. The narrative treats power as a playground for mischief while still hinting at real consequences, using quick dialogue and character clashes to mine laughs from a historic moment without turning it grim.
Dick remains a memorable late 90s entry in teen cinema that toys with politics rather than sermonize. Dunst and Williams anchor the film with charm, and its cheeky premise endures in conversations about how fiction can pry open big historical themes with a wink.
Details
- Release Date
- August 04, 1999
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Rating
- PG-13
- User Ratings
- 291 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Comedy, Adventure
- Country
- United States
- Studio
- Phoenix Pictures +1 more
- Budget
- $13,000,000
- Box Office
- $27,500,000
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Kirsten Dunst
Betsy Jobs
Michelle Williams
Arlene Lorenzo
Dan Hedaya
President Richard M. Nixon
Will Ferrell
Bob Woodward
Bruce McCulloch
Carl Bernstein
Teri Garr
Helen Lorenzo
Dave Foley
Bob Haldeman
Jim Breuer
John Dean
Ana Gasteyer
Rose Mary Woods
Harry Shearer
G. Gordon Liddy
Director: Andrew Fleming
Written by: Sheryl Longin