"Reagan" Movie Review

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The new film Reagan is jam-packed with moments from the 40th President's life. The fictionalized drama, which is in theaters nationwide now, includes references to the former President's life as a lifeguard, an actor, a Screen Actors Guild president, an aspiring Governor, an upstart presidential candidate and a president of the United States.

The 2 hour and 21 minute feature covers a lot of material with some mixed results.

The story of Reagan's rise is told from the perspective of Viktor Petrovich (Jon Voight), a former KGB agent, who tells a young Russian officer about the young actor's rise through politics. Viktor informs his young associate about how the Russians started keeping an eye on Reagan early on, especially when he started leading the charge against Communist infiltration in Hollywood.  

The film, which was inspired by the book The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism, focuses on Reagan's fights against the Russians but it also includes a lot of personal moments. As a young lifeguard who learns about the dangers of Communism from a Russian dissident, Reagan is portrayed by David Henrie (Wizards of Waverly Place) while the older Reagan is played by Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow). In addition to recounting Reagan's time as a lifeguard as a SAG president and as an aspiring political speaker, the first hour also includes a few scenes with Reagan's first wife Jane Wyman (Mena Suvari) and his mother (Jennifer O'Neill).

The screenplay by Howard Klausner covers a lot of material and because of that, there's not a lot of time to delve deeply into any specific moments in Reagan's life. It feels like there was a desire to cover so many moments of Reagan's rise that much of it seems crammed together. For example, the feature spends a few minutes on Reagan's presidential candidacy in 1976, a few moments on the 1981 assassination attempt, and a few scenes on Iran-Contra. Each of these elements of Reagan's story could've been examined with much greater detail but instead, the filmmakers reference them briefly and then move on to the next thing.

It's as if the filmmakers are offering a CliffNotes version of Reagan's life here. History buffs might appreciate the amount of ground that's covered here while others might be left confused as the story moves quickly through a number of time periods. 

That being said, the film thrives in in its depiction of Reagan's relationship with Nancy Reagan (Penelope Ann Miller). The movie briefly details their romance in the first hour but it's in the second hour where it shows how steadfast she was in her support of her husband. It's their bond -- their commitment to one another -- that the film keeps returning to. It's that connection that often grounds Reagan even in moments of defeat. 

Reagan doesn't offer an in-depth look at the title character but it does capture an aerial overview of the man's life and legacy. The decision to frame the story from the perspective of a KGB agent doesn't work as well as it could've (it ultimately doesn't lead anywhere)  but it shows what someone from the outside might've seen of Reagan's life. They wouldn't have seen the whole perspective. They would've only seen looks and glimpses into the president's life and that's what the film offers.  

Dennis Quaid Brings to Life Ronald Reagan’s Inspiring Rise from Small-Town Roots in ‘Reagan’ from Godtube Movie News on GodTube.