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Jack Lemmon, James Garner, Dan Aykroyd, John Heard, Everett McGill ... see more see more... , Sela Ward , Wilford Brimley , Bradley Whitford , Marg Helgenberger , Lauren Bacall , Tom Everett , Conchata Ferrell , Jack Kehler , Mark Lowenthal , James Rebhorn , Esther Rolle , Jeff Yagher , Connie Ray

In this comedy, Russell P. Kramer (Jack Lemmon) and Matt Douglas (James Garner) are two former U.S. Presidents who sit on opposite sides of the political fence. Kramer is a stuffy Republican reluctant... read more read more... to part with a dollar, while Douglas is a left-leaning Democrat with an eye for the ladies. Douglas succeeded Kramer in office after a single term, while Douglas, after four years as chief executive, lost to his former running mate William Haney (Dan Aykroyd). When the facts about a bribery scheme in Haney's administration threaten to surface and destroy his reputation, the ruthless president tries to pin the responsibility on Kramer and Douglas -- and when the ex-presidents learn the truth about Haney's dealings, Haney tries to have them killed before they can talk. Kramer and Douglas soon find themselves on the run, disguising themselves as celebrity impersonators, hiding out in the woods with a homeless family, and marching in a Gay Pride parade in an effort to stay clear of Haney's goons while they bring the truth to the people. My Fellow Americans also features Lauren Bacall as Kramer's long-suffering wife and John Heard as Haney's intellectually-challenged vice president. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

61% liked it

8,302 ratings

Critics

48% liked it

40 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Peter Segal, Bradley Whitford, Segal. Peter, Dan Aykroyd, Everett McGill, Jack Lemmon, James Garner, John Heard, Lauren Bacall, Wilford Brimley

Release Date: December 20, 1996

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DVD Release Date: August 27, 1997

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Stats: 468 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (468)

  • spielberg00
    January 29, 2012
    spielberg00
    For better or for worse, MY FELLOW AMERICANS gains its humor mostly by establishing itself within the first five minutes as a highly fictionalized, unrealistic account of two U.S. Presidents that would have never even gotten close to election. Each one of them behaves like a mod... read moreern day âFourth Stooge,â? and on top of that, neither one seems to care one bit about American issues such as racism and illegal immigration. (If anything, they both seem to accept it as an every day concept.) If any of the United States Presidents were to ever be anything like this, the world would be a much different place.
  • phubbs1
    August 9, 2011
    phubbs1
    Perfect casting as Jack Lemon and James Garner play American ex-Presidents in quite a believable way in both terms of looks and attitude. A brilliant team up with both actors being on top form with witty dialog and some great one two's as they bicker and fight across the Southern... read more Appalachians trying to get their evidence of a conspiracy back to the current President.

    The film is really quite underrated and plays out so well with the two leads having superb timing and really nailing their moments with good old fashioned classic comedy. The plot isn't too complex, it looks really good with some great looking sets (I presume) of the White House, Airforce One plus some nice location work as the two stars bumble through nature.

    Was meant to be a Lemon and Matthau double team flick but to be honest I think this duo works better as Garner really fit the role so well, highly recommended :)
  • fb100002359227440
    June 20, 2011
    fb100002359227440
    More or less, could be much better.
  • thmtsang
    April 12, 2008
    thmtsang
    Jack Lemmon and James Garner are rivals and ex- presidents.
  • puffchunk
    March 10, 2008
    puffchunk
    A bunch of old guys fighting. It's got some fun stuff, for example the little songs they sing are often stuck in my head.
  • FilmFanatik
    November 23, 2007
    FilmFanatik
    You can't help bu ask "Where's Walter Mathua?" Otherwise, the film is very, very funny.
  • sanjurosamurai
    September 29, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    great flick, very entertaining
  • ceWEBrity
    March 19, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    Excruciatingly unfunny.
  • SunilJawahir
    April 4, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    Grumpy Old Men in Washington. Kinda sweet.
  • trisarahtops22
    August 1, 2007
    trisarahtops22
    Sort of like a presidential "grumpy old men", had its funny moments.

View All My Fellow Americans Reviews

Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy
February 14, 2001
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Shameless laughs flow off the prefab assembly line with sufficient regularity to please audiences with a taste for comfortable tradition spiced with a bit of contempo naughtiness. Full Review

Jack Mathews
February 14, 2001
Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times

A gang-written comedy that doesn't have a political bone in its body, or much evidence of a funny one, either. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is not a great comedy and will be soon forgotten, but it has nice moments. Full Review

Tom Keogh
January 1, 2000
Tom Keogh, Film.com

A very bad, uninspired comedy with slight leanings toward self-importance.

Susan Stark
January 1, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

The performers are first rate. Unfortunately, and all too often in movies these days, the script regularly lets them down. Full Review

Richard Schickel
January 1, 2000
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Puts a very bright capper on this dismal political year.

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

A shameless variation on the Grumpy Old Men films. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

There are times when I laughed, but, as a whole, this particular buddy film really isn't worth the price of admission. Full Review

Susan Wloszczyna
January 1, 2000
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today

These two vets of showbiz wars smartly play off their own iconic pasts.

Mick LaSalle
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A pleasing but mediocre film, with a great cast, a great story and a misguided script. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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My Fellow Americans Trivia

  • Name the movie with these actors: Jack Lemmon James Garner Dan Akroyd John Heard Wilford Brimley Bradley Whitford  Answer »
  • "My Fellow Americans" stars James Garner and Jack Lemmon. The men are bound together by the fact that they each used to hold the same job. What job did they once hold?  Answer »
  • Who plays the current President of the US in "My Fellow Americans"?   Answer »
  • Which of the following movies did Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon not star in together?  Answer »
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