Today’s vault review is a two-birds-one-stone deal. Dick reminds us that Monday is President’s Day. It also serves to remind us how awesome an actress Michelle Williams is and we should all be rooting for this three-time Academy nominee next Sunday.

When Arlene (Michelle Williams) and Betsy (Kirsten Dunst) sneak out in the night to mail Arlene’s contest entry to meet teen idol Bobby Sherman, their not-so-stealthy ways lead to the discovery of the Watergate break-in. Later, on a school tour of the White House, they’re recognized by G. Gordon Liddy (Harry Shearer) and brought in for questioning about the infamous night. President Richard M. “Dick” Nixon (Dan Hedaya) recognizes them as nothing more than harmless girls and makes them his Presidential Dog Walkers. Arlene and Betsy become best buds with Dick and his staff thanks to their bubbly personalities and their “special” homemade cookies. Upset by Dick’s attitude toward Checkers (Brunswick), they prank call Bob Woodward (Will Ferrell), and the rest, as they say, is history.

While we now know Mark Felt to be the infamous “Deep Throat” responsible for exposing Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal, watching the antics of two bubble-headed teenagers lead to the downfall of the most powerful man in the world, though outrageously improbable, is silly fun. I had hoped it would be more amusing.

That’s not for a lack of trying. Dick‘s cast combines the comedic chops of SNL cast members Will Ferrell, Jim Breuer, and Ana Gasteyer with The Kids in the Hall‘s Dave Foley and Bruce McCulloch. Harry Shearer, Teri Garr, Ted McGinley, and a very young Ryan Reynolds drop in for a funny minute or two of screen time. Dan Hedaya, one of my favorite That Guys, treats audiences to a respectable portrayal of Nixon. Dunst had the ditzy blonde down even back then. The best? Watching an antsy, bespectacled Michelle Williams blossom into an assertive young hippie.

Without a doubt the funniest scene is Arlene’s fantasy set to Barry White’s Love’s Theme. I don’t know who deserves more credit; writer-director Andrew Fleming and co-writer Sheryl Longin for the scene as a whole, or Michelle Williams for selling it so convincingly.

The revisionist events crafted by Fleming and Longin insert the girls and their goofiness amid document shredding and foreign relations meetings. The girls even hip Nixon to his well-remembered peace sign. As one would expect, Dick also relies heavily on ‘Dick’ jokes. Williams and Dunst maintain a serious tone as they shout “I hate Dick!,” “You can’t let Dick run your life!” or “Dick frightens me!” in mixed company.

You won’t hear me yelling “I love Dick!” or “I hate Dick!” about, well, Dick. Its premise doesn’t hold as much water now as it did back in 1999, but the cast makes this a decent diversion for any Indian summer afternoon.

♥♥ 1/2