This film harkens back to 1988, when an extramarital affair could ruin a politician. Hugh Jackman plays Senator Gary Hart, who was destined to become our next President, until his dalliance was exposed. The narrative touches on his personal life, but much more time is spent examining the conflicts between media and politics. Jackman does just fine, but it feels like a political drama that desperately needs the clever wordplay of Aaron Sorkin or a more incisive examination than director Jason Reitman can conjure. As it stands, it makes an interesting history lesson (although Chappaquiddick did it better last year).
(3 / 5)