Plot: What’s it about?
Governor James Pryce (Tom Selleck) is making his run at the highest office in the land, but it won’t be an easy trek and the road will be bumpy. But with his wife, Jenny (Nancy Travis) by his side, he will have support when he needs it and that can mean a lot in the home stretch. Pryce has few moments to himself though, let alone to spend with his wife and that causes some tension, but nothing too extreme. As with most politicians, Pryce has some people from his past surface that could harm him, but these ladies want to help him and push him into office. You see, these ladies all seek to gain power from Pryce’s new position, so they will do whatever it takes to see him elected in the end. There is his campaign advisor, Lauren (Laura Linney) and two other women from his past, Shawna (Teri Hatcher) and Meg (Faye Dunaway), all of whom share a common thread. They’ve all been former lovers of Pryce’s and all want a slice of the pie once Pryce is in office. But can Pryce overcome all the cameras, microphones, arguments, and tension to win over the voters?
I am a sucker for political films as a whole, but political comedies are an even weaker spot for me, so I was looking forward to this home video edition of Running Mates. I know Tom Selleck isn’t the world’s greatest actor and all, but this seemed like a role he could tackle, so I didn’t abandon hope before I saw the film. This movie was a TNT original picture and I meant to watch it, but missed the broadcast and had to wait for this home video release. But now that I’ve seen the film for myself, I can tell you that it was worth the wait. While Running Mates wasn’t a great movie in the end, it was a pleasant hour and a half, one I am glad I spent with this picture. I’ve even watched the movie a couple times now and most of the humor holds up, so I am adding this one to my personal collection. I figured I would have fun with this film, but I was surprised at how enjoyable it turned out to be. It has some flaws to be sure, but genre fans and fans of Selleck will find a lot to like with Running Mates.
Although he isn’t known for his skills in terms of traditional acting, Tom Selleck has been able to win over audiences with his charm and energy, much like he does in Running Mates. Selleck seems very at home within this role and in truth he should, as this character is close to some of his previous roles. He plays a charmer of course and with all the ladies involved, this was a role custom made for Selleck and he does very well with it. I wouldn’t call this a flawless performance by any means, but Selleck’s natural talents are put to good use here, which enhances his skills. You can also see Selleck in such films as Mr. Baseball, Runaway, Folks!, Three Men and A Baby, Quigley Down Under, In & Out, and The Love Letter. I also love the work of Laura Linney (Congo, The Truman Show) in this film, who shines even though her screen time is limited. I wish she could have gotten some more time here, as she is even better than usual, which is a real compliment. The cast also includes Faye Dunaway (Gia, The Chamber), Bruce McGill (The Insider, Lawn Dogs), Teri Hatcher (Tomorrow Never Dies, Tango & Cash), and Nancy Travis (Air America, Married To The Mob).
Video: How does it look?
Running Mates is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This was a television movie, so the image isn’t as sharp as I would like, but still an above average transfer is present. I saw a few flaws with the source print, but these were minor and not distracting, while the transfer is free from all but minimal compression errors. The colors seem bright, but never too rich and flesh tones come across as natural and warm as well. I didn’t see any flaws with the contrast either, as shadows look solid and detail is quite high. This is a very nice presentation, especially for a made for television movie.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included stereo surround track is quite good and though I might be wrong, I assume it is superior to the broadcast edition. I didn’t hear much in terms of surround use, but in this film, there shouldn’t be much. So, I am pleased this track retains a natural sound, as opposed to forcing too much surround use in there. I like the music used in Running Mates, as it fits the events and is very enjoyable, so I am glad it sounds good in this mix. The main focus of this mix is the dialogue though, which comes across in crisp form and with no volume errors in the least. This disc also houses subtitles in English and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s trailer and some talent files.
