Rob Reiner’s new film “And So It Goes…” comes to theaters this weekend with leading man Michael Douglas. It brings to mind another Michael Douglas/Rob Reiner collaboration “The American President” which was released nearly 20 years ago.
The film features an original screenplay by Aaron Sorkin that is witty, poignant, and full of political ethos that harkens back to the films of Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Billy Wilder, and Frank Capra. Here is a film that on the surface appears to be a simple romantic comedy but by digging deeper the viewer can discover an intelligent political dramedy that challenges conventional wisdom by humanizing the president of the United States. For the first time ever in a feature film, the president is not a mindless puppet or a political martyr but instead a self-deprecating humble, human being filled with humility who would rather be called by his first name “Andrew” than by his powerful title of “Mr. President”. Michael Douglas plays President Andrew Shepherd; a widowed father who chooses to date a lobbyist played by Annette Bening much to the chagrin of his chief of staff played by Martin Sheen, his press secretary played by Michael J. Fox, and the American public which judges the president’s personal life with extreme prejudice creating a threat to the couple’s budding romance.
The film marks Rob Reiner’s second collaboration with Aaron Sorkin, the first being the adaptation of his hit Broadway stage play “A Few Good Men”. Check out the trailer below to find a hidden gem that needs to be rediscovered. Also, listen closely to composer Marc Shaiman’s beautiful musical score which earned an Oscar nomination.