Movies I Love, Part XXII: Dick

This is the untold story of Watergate.

What type of untold story of Watergate?

Well, Harry Shearer plays G. Gordon Liddy. Will Ferrell plays Bob Woodward. Dan Hedaya plays Richard Nixon.

And the ones who get to the bottom of the chicanery going on at the Watergate complex, the biggest scandal in the history of American politics are, uh, well, uh, Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams. It’s a good thing. A very good thing.

Seems the teens had a crush on Bobby Sherman, so they snuck out of their condos at the Watergate to mail a letter to the singer when, ooooooooo myyyyyy Gooooooood, they end up in the middle of that whole burglary thing.

There is something intriguing about fictional films set in the middle of real life events. How often do we fantasize about being in a situation like, okay, like Watergate. These kind of movies are especially enticing when played for laughs.

Frankly, “Dick” is as good as it gets for this type of film. This is clever and cute and funny and, frankly, not a totally unreasonable scenario. Dunst and Williams end up befriending the beleaguered president, and, because of his paranoia, become the “Official White House Dog Walkers.” Along the way, they stumble upon all sorts of shenanigans in the West Wing.

What ensues are plausible yet way funnier than real life explanations for all that went on while the Nixon house of cards tumbled.

Dunst, Williams and Hedaya are pitch perfect. This one is a smile all the way through. The movie is directed by Andrew Fleming, who, truth be told, never reached this level of craft again. (He should be drawn and quartered for his abysmal remake of “The In-Laws.”) But he, and his actors, were totally on their games when “Dick” was filmed.

This is satire of the highest order, meaning it’s true to the topics it satirizes, yet finds new humor and meaning in the actual events.

This is a cinematic comedy that flew below many people’s radar. If you haven’t seen it, go rent it tonight. If you have seen it, my guess is you’ve forgotten about it, but are now smiling while making a note to head to your favorite rental shoppe to pick it up this week.