You'd think that Robin Williams playing a TV comedian who becomes president would be pure gold. And you'd think that a rigged election as a result of faulty computer voting would just make it more interesting.Unfortunately this movie is neither of those things. Primarily because it couldn't make up it's mind whether it was a comedy or a thriller. And even worse that it doesn't combine those two things but switches rather abruptly between the two. Basically all the characters are half baked, which really is a disservice yo the talent of both Williams and Linney. Even Jeff Goldblum in his very short time on the screen is horribly unimpressive. In fact the best thing about this movie is the cameos by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey right at the end.If you're a fan of Robin Williams as I am skip this one. Go and watch "Patch Adams" or "Good morning Vietnam" and go to your happy place.

This is one of Williams worst showings. Even when allowed to rift in his own style (like Good Morning Vietnam) the genuine laughs are few and far between. GMV uses Williams comedy effectively to break up an otherwise poignant and dramatic movie but in 'M of the Y' Williams seems hard pressed to find a balance and the humour seems stale and disjointed. (To be fair, Williams supposedly based his act on Leno's routine which might explain the painfully dumbed down and tired jokes.) A complete waste of Lara Linney's talents. It is ironic that the film was shot in 2006 and seems to foreshadow the 2016 circus of Donald Trump's campaign but none the less a very bad movie.

A well-meaning movie to the max, that wants to say many good things : America is ruled by corporations prevailingly and evilly. How democracy is just a solid image with no true core. And the simple comedian is more frank and honest than the American presidents when he didn't want to go on with the lying while else did (Nixon and Watergate, Bill Clinton and Monica, George W. Bush and WMD in Iraq, etc…). However, it doesn't lack problems. Although the movie is based on comic irony (the comedian who becomes a president), but the movie itself is emptied of funny situations and devoted to discuss its own case so seriously, and sometimes thrillingly, except for some real funny monologues, near to stand-up performances, here and there yet so short and stand alone. Originally I though that the lead would be better as non-comedic actor (like Dustin Hoffman for instance), since the presence of (Robin Williams) with his known comedic weight, and the publicity of the movie as another comedy, both made us wait for what we didn't meet at all. That caused, at least at the first viewing, assured disappointment.Aside from not being a comedy, it isn't your hot political thriller either, since it uses thrill at some point as instrument to showcase its case, the murder of democracy, more than using it for itself. Hmmm, seems like another disappointment for another type of viewer !So, it's mainly not a comedy or thriller. But even if as a drama, it has its problems : I believe the lead fill in love pretty fast. If the bad guys knew the whereabouts of the pursued heroine then why not to terminate her earlier? Then, the biggest flaw at all; which's the transforming of the lead from a sincere comedian wants to be the president of the country to fix it up, into just a comedian who can't be fit in anything but his TV show. And that's the movie's message : the artist's real and effective mission is in his art only. But the thing is the drama didn't utter this message well. Especially when all what made the lead grasp it, is just his sitting on the presidential chair in front of the previous president ! So embodying the hugeness of such responsibilities, according to the lead's abilities, wasn't near to convincing. The smart, biting, and so truthful lines are many. The highest ones in my opinion were : "TV is a devise that kills credibility" and sure "Politicians are like diapers. They must be change from time to time. And for the same reasons !" But this quality of satire is abundantly present in the American TV shows, the politically concerned ones, such as (The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Monday Report), and at the same time of the movie as well. So when it comes to a movie this round, it needed a more powerful drama to carry this out and be different than any TV show. On a personal level, as a writer myself, I kind of didn't very much admire the idea of the artiest as – at best – professional satirist, who's worried about his homeland and loyal to his calls for it, but at the end he's still no more than satirist; someone who masters criticism, not doing. Or in other word; his doing is in only his criticism! But maybe it's an actual truth that the movie certifies, defining for everybody their role. So that's why (Christopher Walken)'s character got paralyzed, during the lead's journey, as the dysfunction of the mind's voice in this comedian's conscience at that very moment. It just won't work. So for anyone waits for a kind dream in which (Robin Williams) turns into a genius risible president who succeeds in solving everything miraculously, then go and watch something like Chris Rock's (Head of State – 2003) better. Otherwise, you're going to be disappointed. Because this movie has a more realistic and serious taste, albeit relatively entertaining.Generally, it's a mesh-mash of genres; comedy, political thriller, drama, while not reaching a peck at any of them as well, which wronged the sharp main idea and the satiric goal. So aside from the misleading propaganda, if you felt something mixed up, deficient, weak with (Man of the Year) then you're right. Apparently being well-meaning isn't enough.

I saw one of the posters for this film, where the leading star is dressed like George Washington, so the concept was going to be obvious, and one that I was willing to try, from director Barry Levinson (Good Morning, Vietnam; Rain Man). Basically Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams) is the host of a satirical comedy politics talk show, and someone jokes in the show that with his quick wit he could run for President of the United States in the up and coming election. He thinks to himself that he could actually do it, and he becomes the independent candidate, and he almost deliberately shows himself up as a questionable candidate, and he makes for good viewing. So it comes to the day of the election, there are small but doubtful to happen hopes that Tom does actually win the election, against Democratic Incumbent President Kellogg (David Nichols) and Republican U.S. Senator Mills (David Ferry), but to everyone's surprise, he does win. He and everyone around him, including his sick manager Jack Menken (Christopher Walken) and Eddie Langston (Lewis Black), are pleased with the result and happy to see him shake up politics as the new President elect. His luck may be about to change though, because Eleanor Green (Laura Linney), who was removed from her job at Delacroy, the private company with rising stocks that created the new computer system for votes to be cast, has discovered a glitch. The voting computer made the mistake of believing the votes for Dobbs counted on the fact that the other two candidates have double letters in their names too, i.e. Kellogg = two Ls and two Gs, Mills = two Ls. After going temporarily mad, being drugged by men sent by her slimy boss Stewart (Jeff Goldblum), she struggles to get this information out, but she does eventually reach Dobbs and explains the glitch. Even being told that she took drugs and stuff, Dobbs is pretty sure that Eleanor is telling the truth that he is not the true elected President, and the conspiracy is becoming more hyped with Eleanor trying to be killed to shut her up. In the end, Tom steps down as President, explaining the glitch to the world, but his actions work for the better, the right man is made President (not great, but good), Stewart is arrested for hiding the information, and Tom goes back to hosting his now higher rated show with Eleanor working beside him. Also starring David Alpay as Danny, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Williams makes for good viewing with his comedic stand up skills coming into play as he rises to the high rank, and Linney is effective as the pressured and at risk programmer. I myself liked the turn from comedy to conspiracy thriller when it happens, the idea of a comedian becoming President is very good, it blatantly picks on the fact that actor Ronald Reagan did it, it could have covered more ground, but it is a likable film. Okay!