Review | The new ‘Reagan’ biopic is not a great communicator

Dennis Quaid hams it up in a clumsy, overly reverent film that fails to capture the essence of the 40th President

The good

* Dennis Quaid's physical resemblance to Reagan is uncanny. * The film's production design is top-notch, recreating the look and feel of the 1980s with great accuracy. * The supporting cast, which includes Jon Voight as Mikhail Gorbachev and Mena Suvari as Nancy Reagan, is solid.

The bad

* Quaid's performance is a caricature, not a nuanced portrayal of a complex figure. * The film's script is simplistic and superficial, failing to delve into the complexities of Reagan's presidency or his personal life. * The film's overly reverent tone borders on hagiography, whitewashing Reagan's flaws and presenting him as a flawless hero.

Overall

Reagan is a clumsy, overly reverent biopic that fails to capture the essence of the 40th President. Dennis Quaid's performance is a caricature, the script is simplistic and superficial, and the film's tone borders on hagiography. Fans of Reagan may find some enjoyment in the film's nostalgia and hero worship, but anyone looking for a nuanced and insightful portrayal of one of America's most consequential presidents will be disappointed.

In-depth review

Dennis Quaid's physical resemblance to Reagan is uncanny. The makeup and prosthetics are so effective that it's easy to forget that you're watching an actor, not the real thing. Quaid also captures Reagan's mannerisms and speech patterns, but his performance ultimately feels like a caricature. He never fully inhabits the character, and his performance lacks the depth and nuance that a complex figure like Reagan deserves. The film's script is equally simplistic and superficial. It fails to delve into the complexities of Reagan's presidency or his personal life. Instead, it focuses on a series of well-worn tropes, such as Reagan's relationship with Nancy and his struggle with Alzheimer's disease. These tropes are handled in a clumsy and heavy-handed way, and they never really add up to a coherent or insightful portrait of the man. The film's overly reverent tone borders on hagiography. Reagan is presented as a flawless hero, and his flaws are whitewashed or ignored. This approach may please Reagan's fans, but it does a disservice to history. Reagan was a complex figure with both strengths and weaknesses, and a truly honest portrayal of him would have acknowledged both sides of his legacy. Overall, Reagan is a disappointing biopic. It's a clumsy, overly reverent film that fails to capture the essence of the 40th President. Dennis Quaid's performance is a caricature, the script is simplistic and superficial, and the film's tone borders on hagiography. Fans of Reagan may find some enjoyment in the film's nostalgia and hero worship, but anyone looking for a nuanced and insightful portrayal of one of America's most consequential presidents will be disappointed.