Stone has assembled a high-powered all-star cast of familiar actors to play members of the Bush family and cabinet. Josh Brolin (last seen in the Oscar-winning best picture "No Country for Old Men") heads the marquee as the title character often referred to as Junior. Brolin gives a performance worthy of an Oscar nomination for best actor.

James Cromwell plays George Herbert Walker Bush and is affectionately called Poppy.

The father-son dynamics are the heart of the movie. Junior seems to be living in the shadow of his dad. He goes out of his way to get attention. He is a legacy at the Yale fraternity house where he initially demonstrates his ability to remember the names of Delta Kappa brothers. He has a devil-may-care attitude that gets him in trouble. His handsome and distinguished appearance makes him a hit with the ladies.

After several failed business ventures, he decides to go into politics, which he refers to as "the family business." He also makes a transformation from heavy drinking to being born again when he finds solace in religious faith.

A stabilizing influence in his life is his future wife Laura (Elizabeth Banks). They make a good match because she is a good listener who allows him to do most of the talking.

His first try in the political arena is a defeat in a run for Congress. His fortunes turn positive on his 34th birthday when Poppy makes him campaign manager in his run for president. This stroke of luck puts Dubya in contact with influential men and party backers. He develops a friendship with Karl Rove (Toby Jones), who is the first to recognize Dubya’s natural talents and personal touch with people. The movie proceeds with his successful run for governor of Texas and culminates with his decision as president to invade Iraq.

There are many laugh-out-loud moments in this political comedy. Sports jargon emphasizing an "us versus them" mentality is used when discussing military action. Dubya quickly learns never to take his eye off the ball and that running a country is more than just a game.

He is often portrayed as a misunderstood buffoon who turned to politics as a last resort after so many disappointments in business ventures. He does actually eat a sandwich, talk strategy and pick his teeth at the same time. You will feel both pity and sympathy for him.

Richard Dreyfuss gives one of the best performances of his career playing Dick Cheney. Ellen Burstyn is underutilized in her role as Barbara Bush. She recites several key lines which indicate that Junior takes after his mother with a loud mouth, a short fuse and an inability to handle criticism. Poppy seems to favor his son Jeb, who thinks before he speaks and always made the family proud with his scholastic achievements.

The only weak link in the acting chain is Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice. Her fake exaggerated accent turns her scenes into a parody right out of the "Saturday Night Live" playbook.

Stone shows his sarcastic side with interesting musical selections that include "The Yellow Rose of Texas," the theme from "Robin Hood" and "Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys" sung by Willie Nelson.

Besides Dreyfuss and Jones, acting kudos go to Stacy Keach (as minister Earle Hudd), Bruce McGill (as CIA director George Tenet) and Jeffrey Wright (as General Colin Powell).

This movie is never boring and is skillfully edited.

It reportedly will offer footnotes to counter any claims made by conservatives attacking the fairness and truthfulness of the information since Stone has promised to have a Web site up that explains the sources for every scene in the movie. This Internet destination could be helpful as a reference for more serious analysis and the dissection of policy decisions.

Historians will be the final arbiters of W.’s legacy, but for the time being this intriguing melodrama is a good starting point as a refresher lesson on the strengths and weaknesses of this lame duck public figure.

Review By:
Keith Cohen, "The Movie Guy"