The biopic film "Reagan" starring Dennis Quaid as the 40th U.S. President sparked polarized reactions, with audiences embracing it while critics panned it.
The film covers Reagan's life from his acting career to his presidency, highlighting his opposition to communism, Christian faith, and the assassination attempt.
It portrays Reagan in a positive light, crediting him with the fall of the Soviet Union and presenting him as an anti-racist trailblazer, though critics question this portrayal given his civil rights record.
The film exceeded box office expectations, earning around $10 million on its opening Labor Day weekend, nearly doubling projections.
It received an "A" CinemaScore from moviegoers and a 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, contrasting with a 19% critics' score, highlighting a significant gap between audience and critic opinions.
Dennis Quaid's performance as Reagan at different ages is praised, as is Penelope Ann Miller's emotional portrayal of Nancy Reagan.
The film is criticized for being a hagiographic highlight reel that ignores complexities of Reagan's presidency, like the AIDS crisis, and for its one-sided heroic view told through a fictional former KGB agent's perspective.
Some claim the film distorts historical narratives, lacks critical insight into Reagan's influence, and has limitations in CGI and makeup.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Slate, Fox News, New York Post, National Review, Charisma, Collider, Tribune, CDA Press, Head Topics, Conservative Angle, Film Book, Fox Wilmington, Twitchy, Freedom's Phoenix, Lake Wales News, MusicRow, American Thinker, Escalon Times, CultureMap