KSL Movie Show review: ‘Reagan’ is a mixed bag biopic

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SALT LAKE CITY — Back in 2020, CBS took a beating for its apparent weak sauce portrayal of Ronald Reagan in a miniseries. So much so, that the Tiffany Network eventually only played it on Showtime.  

Outraged and vowing to give “the Gipper” a better biopic, producer Mark Joseph, screenwriter Howard Klausner and director Sean McNamara teamed up to take Paul Kengor’s 2006 book “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism” and adapt it for the big screen. 

The result is a surface-y “greatest hits” of Mr. Reagan’s life, along with a heavy dose of Soviet spying on what they considered to be an up-and-coming dangerous political figure on the American landscape years before he would appear on the national stage. 

In other words, the Soviets knew he would be a problem, way before the American public took notice of his potential — sort of a backhanded compliment.

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And though you might be confused by the early and continual intense discussions between a former KGB agent, played by Jon Voight, and some new face in Moscow politics, it sets up the narrative background that chronicles the almost-jealous watchful Soviet eye keeping tabs on this handsome, troublesome cowboy/actor. 

So who do they get to play the incomparable Ronald Reagan in his grownup years? How about Dennis Quaid? 

No, seriously, that’s who they chose. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I like Dennis Quaid. I think he’s a fine actor, but playing “Dutch” Reagan felt like a stretch too far.  For half of the movie, all I could see was Dennis Quaid pretending to be Ronald Reagan.

It was only in that second hour —and possibly because I’d been beaten into submission— that I began to accept him as the 40th president of the United States and even then I was shaking my head.

Other casting choices that actually made me chuckle were: Kevin Dillon, Matt’s brother and Johnny Drama of “Entourage” playing studio mogul Jack Warner (ala Warner Bros.), Robert Davi, the opera-singing Fratelli brother from “Goonies” playing General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party Leonid Brezhnev and my personal favorite, singer Pat Boone playing a crusty old preacher, Reverend George Otis, in the same scene with a guy playing a younger Pat Boone. 

Classic stuff.

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Eventually, once they circled back to the assassination attempt in 1981 where he famously said to the surgeons “I hope you’re all Republican,” a sweetness between him and Nancy began to settle in over the storyline. 

It felt like they had finally reached their stride and were getting more into the behind-the-scenes moments and less of the previous nuts and bolts biographical bits. 

Bottom line? This is a mixed bag of heavy-handed rah-rah dialog and some genuinely touching moments. 

Frankly, it’s better than “The Reagans” miniseries, but it’s still a far cry from a “Lincoln” or a “Patton.”  

“Reagan” (C+) Rated PG-13 for violent content and smoking. Starring Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller, Jon Voight, Mena Suvari and Ole Krupa. Directed by Sean McNamara (“On a Wing and a Prayer” “Soul Surfer”) – filmed in Oklahoma. Running time: 135 minutes.  

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.