Dave 1993

In the bustling streets of Georgetown, Washington D.C., Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline) operates a humble temporary employment agency, all while harboring a secret talent for impersonation. His uncanny resemblance to President William Harrison “Bill” Mitchell, which he shares with the man himself (also played by Kevin Kline), has proven to be a valuable asset in his side hustle as a presidential doppelganger. When devious Chief of Staff Bob Alexander (Frank Langella) commissions Dave for an exclusive appearance on behalf of the President, little does he know that this chance encounter will set off a chain reaction of events that will forever alter the course of American politics.

As fate would have it, President Mitchell’s extramarital tryst with White House staffer Randi (Laura Linney) is cut short by a stroke, leaving him in a coma. Alexander seizes the opportunity to maintain the status quo and confides in Communications Director Alan Reed (Kevin Dunn), orchestrating a masterful cover-up that will keep the President’s condition under wraps. The duo convinces Dave that his services are needed on an ongoing basis, fabricating a narrative that suggests the country would crumble if the truth were revealed or Vice President Gary Nance (Ben Kingsley) - who they claim is mentally unstable - took office.

Meanwhile, only a select few are privy to the truth: Duane Stevenson (Ving Rhames), the Secret Service bodyguard tasked with protecting Dave as he assumes the role of President; and the medical staff tending to the real President Mitchell in the White House basement, who have been bribed by Reed to keep quiet. Even the President’s mistress Randi and First Lady Ellen Mitchell (Sigourney Weaver) are unwittingly oblivious to the switch, leaving Dave to navigate the treacherous waters of presidential politics as he impersonates the comatose leader.

As Alexander’s plans unfold, he cleverly manipulates Dave into serving as a proxy for his short-term power grab, while simultaneously plotting to frame Nance for illegal activities, thereby paving the way for Alexander’s eventual ascension to the top office. Meanwhile, however, Dave begins to chart his own course of action, which inadvertently boosts Mitchell’s popularity with the public and leaves both the Washington media and the First Lady perplexed. The latter, in particular, has been hiding her own marital struggles beneath a façade of public support for her husband.

Mitchell turns to his old friend Murray, an astute accountant from Baltimore, to rework the national budget, only to discover that $650 million can be allocated to save a cherished project dear to the First Lady’s heart - a homeless initiative. Although she initially tricks Mitchell into exposing his ruse, he eventually convinces Stevenson to take her to meet the real President Mitchell, who is struggling with a terminal illness and not expected to survive for long. This revelation prompts the First Lady to experience a minor emotional breakdown, leading her to decide that it’s time to leave the White House. However, Dave seizes the opportunity to genuinely help the nation and persuades her to remain, at least temporarily, and keep up the charade.

Despite Ellen’s initial skepticism, she is soon won over by Dave’s sincerity. Meanwhile, Alexander realizes that his plan has been foiled as Dave refuses to be his puppet anymore. In response, he threatens to expose Dave, but the latter stands firm, pointing out that Alexander would ultimately lose more from revealing the fraud. This prompts Dave to hold a news conference, announcing his decision to fire Alexander and proposing a comprehensive full-employment program to Congress.

Dave’s subsequent meeting with Vice President Nance, who had been sent on a goodwill tour of Africa, is marked by a stern rebuke for “Mitchell” regarding his involvement in a financial scandal. As Dave becomes aware that Nance isn’t mentally ill as Alexander had claimed, but rather being used by him, he realizes the gravity of the situation. Alexander then attempts to destroy Dave’s reputation by implicating him in the same financial scandal - only this time, with Reed revealing that the real President Mitchell is actually guilty. Simultaneously, Alexander launches his own bid for the presidency, further complicating the situation.

As the scandal surrounding him reaches a fever pitch, Dave steadfastly refuses to back down from his crusade to pass employment legislation, forging an unlikely bond with Nance over a late-night conversation about his improbable rise from shoe salesman to Vice President. Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, Ellen and Dave converge on their shared assessment that Nance’s unassuming nature belies a deep commitment to public service, making him a presidential candidate worthy of consideration.

In a climactic joint session of Congress, Dave, as Mitchell, takes the podium to confess his role in the scandal, yet cleverly introduces irrefutable evidence supplied by Reed that Alexander was the true mastermind behind the scheme, and Nance an unwitting pawn. As he begins making a formal apology to the nation, Dave’s sudden, convincing stroke sends shockwaves through the assembly, allowing him to be replaced with the comatose Mitchell. The 25th Amendment swiftly declares Mitchell incapacitated, ultimately leading to his untimely demise. A wave of public sentiment shifts its focus from Dave to the deceased Mitchell, mourning his passing and lauding his legacy.

Meanwhile, Bob Alexander’s later arrest and indictment seem to leave untouched the intricate ruse that enabled Dave’s brief tenure in office, as revealing the truth would only compound his liabilities. Nance assumes the presidency, vowing to uphold “Mitchell’s” employment agenda.

Five months hence, Dave sets his sights on local politics, running a campaign for city council. The widow Ellen Mitchell, now free from the burdens of the White House, pays him a visit, seeking employment and sparking a romantic connection. As they steal a private moment in his office, Stevenson appears at the window, sporting a campaign badge bearing Dave’s name.