Sometimes, a movie hits the big screen and you wonder if Hollywood forgot to check if it’s actually, you know, good. That’s exactly the case with “Reagan,” the latest attempt at a presidential biopic that misses its target so badly, you’d think it was a poorly-made Russian rocket.
“Reagan” directed by Sean McNamara, attempts to tell the story of the 40th President of the United States, but instead, it feels like a two hour-long political campaign ad. Instead of the audience being allowed to decide the quality of Ronald Reagan’s character for themselves, the film spends every single second pounding it into their heads. You’re left wondering if this is a serious historical film or a satirical parody thats forgotten to be funny. Furthermore, at times, the characters seem to serve as mouthpieces for political ideology rather than as living, breathing individuals.
“There are just some things that seem too fiction,” said Aaron Constantino ’25.
Dennis Quaid, with his charismatic smile, attempts to bring Reagan to life but is betrayed by a script that reduces the former president to a series of patriot soundbites. By the time he utters Reagan’s famous line (“Tear down this wall”), you’re wishing someone would tear down the screen. Penelope Ann Miller, playing Nancy Reagan, is similarly constrained by a script that offers her little more than the role of supportive wife, robbing the first lady of any real agency.
And what about the political drama around the presidency? Nope. If you were hoping for a deep, thoughtful analysis of the Iran-Contra or Reaganomics, you’re out of luck. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War are depicted as almost single-handed accomplishments of Reagan, ignoring the numerous external factors and other key figures involved.
“Having taken many history classes, I instantly spotted how scenes were tailored to fit the patriotic narrative,” says Luke Barrera ‘25. The film also conveniently glosses over the Iran-Contra affair and Reagan’s problematic policies on AIDS and civil rights. It presents a sanitized version of history that will feel harsh to anyone who’s studied his presidency.
In summary, “Reagan” is a missed opportunity to critically explore the life and legacy of one of America’s most iconic figures. This is by no means a good movie–it is a bad one. For those who are looking for a place to watch the real unfolding of the collapse of the Soviet Union, you might find more enjoyment and knowledge from Heimler’s History.
