The Distinguished Gentleman
A self-serving Washington con artist unexpectedly risks his political fortune to expose corporate corruption harming children.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- irreverent
- cynical
- broad
- political comedy night
- eddie murphy marathon
What critics said
Critics found the political premise promising but broadly judged the execution slow, sterile, and laborious.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Thomas Jefferson Johnson exploits congressional perks while Dick Dodge protects bribery and corporate interests.
Johnson begins as a professional shyster but develops a conscience while investigating childhood cancer linked to electric companies.
Johnson wins office through name recognition and encounters the financial perks, bribery, and cynical maneuvering of Congress.
The central investigation connects electric companies with cancer in young children and challenges congressional obstruction.
Films like The Distinguished Gentleman, and why
Wag the Dog
political satire, broad comedic performance, and institutional corruption
Dave
washington political comedy with cynical power-brokering and farcical tone
Bulworth
screwball political satire centered on corruption and public accountability
Movie Details
- Director
- Jonathan Lynn
- Release Date
- 1992-12-04
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (340)
Cast
- Eddie Murphy
- Lane Smith
- Sheryl Lee Ralph
- Joe Don Baker
- Victoria Rowell
- Grant Shaud
- Kevin McCarthy
- Charles S. Dutton
- Victor Rivers
- Chi McBride
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Distinguished Gentleman about?
- A self-serving Washington con artist unexpectedly risks his political fortune to expose corporate corruption harming children.
- What is The Distinguished Gentleman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Distinguished Gentleman as slow, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Distinguished Gentleman violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Distinguished Gentleman.
- What did critics think of The Distinguished Gentleman?
- Critics found the political premise promising but broadly judged the execution slow, sterile, and laborious.
- Which films are like The Distinguished Gentleman?
- Films with a similar feel include Wag the Dog, Dave, and Bulworth.
- How long is The Distinguished Gentleman?
- The Distinguished Gentleman runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Distinguished Gentleman?
- In United States, The Distinguished Gentleman streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
