Primary Colors

REVIEW
This peppy political comedy based on the best-selling book, an examination of a "fictional" presidential candidate from Arkansas who can't keep his hands to himself, makes for zippy, exceptionally well-acted and highly entertaining storytelling. The action unfolds from the perspective of Henry Burton (Lester), a young "buppy" political consultant who's brought onto Gov. Jack Stanton's campaign for the presidency (Travolta makes the perfect choice for the Clinton stand-in). Thompson, as Mrs. Gov. Stanton, struggles to nail her "American" accent but is nonetheless solid, and Thornton is a standout as the James Carvell-ish Richard Jemmons. But it's Bates who steals the show as Libby Holden, a ruthless, unapologetically leftwing political muckracker who's called on to dig up some dirt. So despite being part and parcel of all those headlines about Clinton and his intern (remember Monica?), Primary Colors proves to be just the right antidote for the politically jaded.