Dear Dictator

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Dear Dictator

Released Mar 16, 2018

1h 30m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

17%

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23 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

When an outcast teen, Tatiana, gets a school assignment to write a letter to a person she admires, she jokingly writes to a foreign dictator named Hector because she likes his fashion sense. Hector takes to the admiration, and the two become unlikely pen pals, however, when Hector has to flee his country during a coup, he seeks refuge in the house of his only remaining friend.

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Critics Consensus

Dear Dictator never comes close to taking advantage of its wildly silly premise -- or the assortment of talented veterans who round out the cast.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Unfortunately writer-directors Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse can get only so much mileage out of it, and they cede too much screen time to Katie Holmes as the girl's mother.

Mar 9, 2020

Full Review

Karen Han

The Daily Beast

There's something sharper and smarter in Dear Dictator, but that ground is left regrettably unexplored; it's a film that ultimately doesn't live up to its premise. Going deeper would require considerably more guts.

Mar 16, 2018

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Simon Abrams

RogerEbert.com

[A] just-shy-of-great teen comedy.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 16, 2018

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Josh Goller

Spectrum Culture

Appropriates and then drains all subversion out of its punk and revolutionary trappings in favor of contrived, melodramatic pap.

Rated: 1.75/5

Jul 20, 2019

Full Review

Austin Trunick

Under the Radar

Dear Dictator makes you hope for something subversive, and there occasional flashes of potential, but then it always falls back into the easiest, most obvious route.

Rated: 3/10

Jul 2, 2018

Full Review

Susan Granger

SSG Syndicate

While Michael Caine is always fun to watch, unfortunately, the pacing/editing is not on a par with the writing. The satire should have been sharper and more subversive.

Rated: 5/10

May 6, 2018

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Curtis G

I could not finish it. I think it’s one of the worst movies I have ever seen.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/30/24

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sucursal 5

He visto muchas malas críticas sobre esta película. Pero que esperaban, se trata de un dictador en desgracia, que se refugia en casa de una niña/adolescente y la ayuda a ser popular mientras mejora la relación con su madre, y que no pretende ni ser un héroe ni ser bueno. No esperes una Opera Prima, pero es una comedia sencilla que cumple, no está mal actuada, te arrancará alguna risas y quizá ayude a pensar en la naturaleza del poder.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/26/24

Full Review

Michael A

Why on earth is Michael Caine in this very sloppily made movie??? Last time I saw Michael Caine and Katie Holmes in the same film was Batman... what goes on in Hollywood casting?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/05/24

Full Review

Cork B

Pretty good cast and a pretty good idea. But this thing just fails on execution. It was just plain not funny, and I found myself losing interest in the characters and the story.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/17/23

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Jesse B

This is a hit or miss comedy meant for very dark people only. Goes too far. Micheal Caine and Katie Holmes shine along with Odeya Rush, at times.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Total train wreck of a film. How in holy heck did Sir Michael Caine get wrapped up in this monstrosity? Maybe he was seeking to negate his film legacy and thought this would be a good way? Like the rebels in the fictional banana republic that Caine's character rules over, let's hope that everyone involved in the making of this film gets put up against the wall. Caine better have fired his agent for this one. And Holmes? She used to be a semi-serious actor. This movie made her career seem deader than her marriage with Cruise. Talk about securing your position on the D-list.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

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Lisa Addario

Director

Joe Syracuse

Director

Michael Caine

General Anton Vincent

Odeya Rush

Tatiana Mills

Katie Holmes

Darlene Mills

Jason Biggs

Mr. Spines

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Dear Dictator: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When an outcast teen, Tatiana, gets a school assignment to write a letter to a person she admires, she jokingly writes to a foreign dictator named Hector because she likes his fashion sense. Hector takes to the admiration, and the two become unlikely pen pals, however, when Hector has to flee his country during a coup, he seeks refuge in the house of his only remaining friend.

Director: Lisa Addario, Joe Syracuse
Producer: Lisa Addario, Jorge Garcia Castro, Robert Ogden Barnum, Mary Aloe, Daniel Grodnik, Lucas Jarach
Screenwriter: Lisa Addario, Joe Syracuse
Distributor: Cinedigm
Production Co: Cinedigm, Defiant Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 16, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 16, 2018
Runtime: 1h 30m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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