Any movie about President Ronald Reagan made by Hollywood usually involves him being depicted as either an inept actor or the anti-Christ, almost approaching the entertainment industries opinion of current President Bush. "The Day Reagan Was Shot" didn't really get a chance to do that to title president, because he was incapacitated for most of the movie.

The story revolves around Reagan's cabinet, and all of the problems they endured during this critical situation. Since it is Hollywood, we can assume the facts in this are at best distorted, and at worse, an all out lie. However, the acting wasn't bad, and from that standpoint, this is an enjoyable movie.

For those of you who weren't alive in 1981, President Reagan was shot by a man named John Hinckley. The reason why Hinckley did this was not to help the Democrats, but rather he hoped actress Jodi Foster would fall in love with him. While Reagan was incapacitated, the government was trying to keep the appearance of organization, while the Soviet Union was attempting to occupy Poland. Since Poland's government was under the Soviet control, the effort was really academic. It was during this time, then Secretary of State Al Haig made his famous gaff, "I am in charge;" the statement which caused quite a stir in the media.

Considering this was a Showtime movie, it has quite a few stars in it. To me, the main star--coincidentally, the man who did the best job--was Richard Dreyfuss (The Goodbye Girl) starring as Al Haig. If any of the story is true, he did a convincing job of showing a man fighting his own personality, as well as the others in the cabinet. I didn't quite believe Richard Crenna (First Blood) as President Reagan, but it wasn't a bad performance.

Writer and director Cyrus Nowrasteh was born in Boulder, CO, and grew up in Madison, WI, so I guessing he is a little left of Joseph Lenin. However, I felt he did write an honest Reagan character, which is saying something for Hollywood.

This movie is not bad, but nothing to right home about. If there is an ounce of truth to any of the story, then its compelling. Otherwise, its just a standard movie with some great acting by Dreyfuss.

Brian - the Naked Gun