My Fellow Americans

PG-13

Released Dec 20, 1996

1 hr. 41 min.

Comedy

Adventure

LGBTQ+

List

47%

60 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Ex-presidents Kramer (Jack Lemmon) and Douglas (James Garner) have hated each other for years. But when the current administration of President Haney (Dan Aykroyd) -- Kramer's former vice president -- tries blaming a string of kickbacks from a defense contractor on the two former presidents, they band together. With Haney's goons trying to kill them, they set out across the country to try and clear their reputations. In the process, they see a side of America they never knew before.

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Critics Consensus

It doesn't commit any impeachable offenses, but My Fellow Americans lacks strong regulatory oversight of its toothless political satire and misuse of comedic talent.

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Blu B

It's actually Good! Everyhing about this is suprsingly well made. It moves at a very brisk pace and for two thirds of the time it is actually pretty smart and witty with most of the jokes getting good laughs. The issues that hold this back honestly are when they are on the road back to the White House i feels like it devolves slightly into slapstick potty humor out of nowhere that waters down everything but it pleasantly picks back up and abandons that in the last 30 minutes back to the wittiness of the first half. Garner and Lemmon have solid chemistry and it can't be understated how suprisngly witty and snappy the humor is when it isn't the dumb slapstick/potty jokes. There is a lot of charm in the performances in this. The villian is just ok and a bit forgettable and a lot of the jokes aren't visually based. This is a combination of the tone/energy of Tommy Boy with Grumpy Old Men mixed together and the result is a suprising comedy that works. If it had been more consistent in the middle it would've helped but as it is anyone who is a fan of the director, 90's comedies, or fans of any actors in this will like this. This was a suprise.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/12/23

Full Review

Greg M

Great film. Hilarious. All these critics are completely full of shit. One of the best political comedies to ever be made.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/12/23

Full Review

Stella F

Good writing and reliable performances by two fine comedians. Not just funny but an entertaining story with the two ex POTUSES escaping the bad guys in funny ways.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/19/23

Full Review

Evan Z

I watched that film back in 2012, and it's brilliant. Jack Lemmon and James Garner did well together, Peter Segal's amazing directing, Dan Aykroyd's performance was superb, and Laruen Bacall was great in it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

Full Review

Dan T

A classic. Good writing, callbacks. One or two things may not have aged as great as others, but a very fun "road trip" sort of movie. The back & forth chemistry between Jack Lemon & James Garner works! Also, a great look at *parts* of the real America (or Americans) to out of touch politicians. If you like The Odd Couple or Road Trip movies, definitely give it a watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It was in my dad's dvd collection when he died... a truly dreadful film that accurately reflected his life long political acumen?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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Peter Segal

Director

Jack Lemmon

President Russell O. Kramer

James Garner

President Matt Douglas

Dan Aykroyd

President William Haney

John Heard

Vice President Ted Matthews

Sela Ward

Kaye Griffin

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

With two of the screen's best comedic actors, a script that crackles with wit and surprise, and perfectly tuned direction, My Fellow Americans scores a bull's-eye.

Aug 7, 2019

Full Review

Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

Using talent of this order on a script this weak, along with merely decorative appearances by the likes of Lauren Bacall and Wilford Brimley, amounts to the Hollywood equivalent of government waste.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 22, 2013

Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

As political satire, My Fellow Americans makes a poor candidate.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 22, 2013

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

My Fellow Americans certainly holds up after several presidential administrations but the film could definitely be better.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 22, 2019

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

The humor is clearly of the lowbrow variety, but Lemmon and Garner handle their lines with the conviction of Royal Shakespeare Company members tackling Macbeth.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 24, 2016

Full Review

Stephen Hunter

Baltimore Sun

If My Fellow Americans had ever decided which movie it wanted to be, it might have been pretty good. As it is, the good half and the bad half all but cancel each other out.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 22, 2013

Full Review

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Synopsis

Ex-presidents Kramer (Jack Lemmon) and Douglas (James Garner) have hated each other for years. But when the current administration of President Haney (Dan Aykroyd) -- Kramer's former vice president -- tries blaming a string of kickbacks from a defense contractor on the two former presidents, they band together. With Haney's goons trying to kill them, they set out across the country to try and clear their reputations. In the process, they see a side of America they never knew before.

Director: Peter Segal
Executive Producer: Tracy Barone, Neil Meron, Craig Zadan
Screenwriter: E. Jack Kaplan, Richard Chapman, Peter Tolan
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Peters Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 25, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.3M
Sound Mix: Surround

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