Wag the Dog

Name: Wag the Dog
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: December 25, 1997
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Anne Heche, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro

1997

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 58 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 58 Ratings

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Wag The Dog

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Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: December 25, 1997 | R

Starring: Anne Heche, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro

Summary: Wickedly fictional with historical overtones truer than many care to admit, Wag The Dog examines the blurred lines between politics, the media and show business. (New Line Productions)

Director: Barry Levinson

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 97 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

The movie is a satire that contains just enough realistic ballast to be teasingly plausible; like "Dr. Strangelove," it makes you laugh, and then it makes you wonder. Read full review

Elvis Mitchell

Wag the Dog, the poison-tipped political satire that's as scarily plausible as it is swift, hilarious and impossible to resist. Read full review

Dallas Observer Michael Sragow

Director Barry Levinson has given this swift, sure-footed film a matter-of-fact, improvisational look and feel. To appreciate its brisk, confident, wild comedy, all you need is a funny bone and a BS meter. Read full review

Rick Groen

WAG the Dog is a cozy political satire, the warm-and-fuzzy kind that is always entertaining yet never disturbing. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Levinson's sure touch keeps audiences smiling and manages to maintain an aura of good nature in a film that, at heart, offers a caustic, almost bitter vision of American institutions and contemporary politics. Read full review

David Denby

Barry Levinson’s political and media satire Wag the Dog goes as fast as the wind, and that’s a relief because the idea behind the movie is thin. Very thin -- and at times offensively glib. Read full review

Desson Thomson

A blithely unfunny, low-budget comedy from director Barry Levinson. Read full review

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User Reviews

gracjanski

Sep 12, 2020

I remember when I was watching this movie the first time in 1997 I didnt understand the movie. It was nonsense for me. After so many years and understanding the media and politics, I enjoyed the movie so much. This movie laughs so much about all the naive people, who believe everything, whatI remember when I was watching this movie the first time in 1997 I didnt understand the movie. It was nonsense for me. After so many years and understanding the media and politics, I enjoyed the movie so much. This movie laughs so much about all the naive people, who believe everything, what is coming out of the TV...De Niro and Hoffman were brilliant.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Nov 24, 2019

Dans la même veine que "Meurtres en direct", une excellente satire de la politique politicienne, de la manipulation des masses et des écrans de fumée... C'est ici très inspiré d'une certaine affaire Lewinsky qui concernait un certain président, un "DSK" bien avant l'heure en somme qui aDans la même veine que "Meurtres en direct", une excellente satire de la politique politicienne, de la manipulation des masses et des écrans de fumée... C'est ici très inspiré d'une certaine affaire Lewinsky qui concernait un certain président, un "DSK" bien avant l'heure en somme qui a ensuite détourné l'attention par une petite guerre opportuniste en ex-Yougoslavie...

Notons cependant que le film est sorti (aux Etats-unis) un bon mois avant le scandale et que soit les auteurs étaient incroyablement bien informés, soit ils avaient une imagination particulièrement... perverse ! mais quand on pense aux armes de destruction massivement fictives de la seconde guerre d'Irak, on se dit de toute façon que la fiction reste toujours bien en deçà de la réalité... (cf les trumperies !).

Quoi qu'il en soit, cette comédie souvent acide n'y va pas par quatre chemins et met les pieds dans le plat, parfois un peu trop sans doute, emportée par son entrain très entraînant qui fait feu de tout bois. Il faut dire que les acteurs s'en donnent à coeur joie, De Niro en "Monsieur Propre" et Hoffman en producteur mégalomane !

Drôle et cinglant en tout cas, le film reste très rythmé et dénonce avec intelligence (ce qui reste rare en Amérique) les lavages de cerveau et les bourrages de crâne en tous genres : une belle réussite.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Bazsa1

Sep 29, 2013

This movie is not good because of the story, the feeling, the actors' talent. It's good because what and how is it talking about politics and how things are going in the shadow of the White House. It makes you think it makes you laugh, like a good comedian. It will tell you things in a veryThis movie is not good because of the story, the feeling, the actors' talent. It's good because what and how is it talking about politics and how things are going in the shadow of the White House. It makes you think it makes you laugh, like a good comedian. It will tell you things in a very unique and funny way. But when you leave after it's performance you will think about what it's said and it will leave some messages deep inside you. If you like watching what happens behind the curtains, then this is your movie. But I could recommend it to nearly anyone. It is worth the time you spend on watching it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

May 17, 2016

A smart and crafty political comedy, Wag the Dog entertains throughout while also pointing out many flaws in the American political system and news media. Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche, Denis Leary, William H.Macy, and Woody Harrelson, are all very good here. The writing isA smart and crafty political comedy, Wag the Dog entertains throughout while also pointing out many flaws in the American political system and news media. Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche, Denis Leary, William H.Macy, and Woody Harrelson, are all very good here. The writing is smart and the direction from Barry Levinson is solid with the film having very good pacing and being quite coherent. While the film can get a bit outlandish at times, Wag the Dog's excesses are largely due to its insane premise and the real situations it satires throughout the film. Overall, Wag the Dog entertains, satires, and will have you laughing from beginning to end as this cast of characters finds themselves in new and odd situations.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CinemaCrush

May 13, 2018

Although at times it's not a wild romp through political tomfoolery and deception, it is a believable one, and that's what sells it. It's subtle demeanor has a strong aftertaste that resonates through any time period. Still relevant as ever and strong performances from a smart ensembleAlthough at times it's not a wild romp through political tomfoolery and deception, it is a believable one, and that's what sells it. It's subtle demeanor has a strong aftertaste that resonates through any time period. Still relevant as ever and strong performances from a smart ensemble cast, complimented with two cherries on top. A hilarious Woody Harrelson cameo and Willie Nelson practically playing himself. One of my personal top ten listmakers in political fiction, with the likes of Dr Strangelove, The Manchurian Candidate etc... it definitely has a place with those classics. Wag the Dog is all bite.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

mohamad91hk

May 21, 2020

The film is satirizing the USA politics in an ironic way, and how the politicians try to hide their scandals by making something bigger (like war) to distract the public opinion.

The idea is cool to make it as a funny film, but actually the film wasn't funny at all, It looks like aThe film is satirizing the USA politics in an ironic way, and how the politicians try to hide their scandals by making something bigger (like war) to distract the public opinion.

The idea is cool to make it as a funny film, but actually the film wasn't funny at all, It looks like a biography film not a comedy!!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MichaelD.

Mar 13, 2006

I watched this in Luxembourg a couple of years ago and some people in the audience were laughing at scenes for reasons unclear to me.. It seems to be an on the whole well regarded movie but I found it predictable, corny, cliched yes I did not like it at all.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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28	#28 Best Movie of 1997
63	#63 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
27	#27 Most Shared Movie of 1997