Watch First Family

First Family is a political comedy film released in 1980, directed by Buck Henry and starring Bob Newhart, Gilda Radner, and Madeline Kahn. The film tells the story of an American President's family, the Tates, as they navigate their way through their lives in the White House. The movie begins with the newly elected President of the United States, Manfred Link (played by Bob Newhart), and his wife, Ellen (played by Madeline Kahn), moving into the White House. Along with them, their two children, daughter Gloria (played by Gilda Radner) and son Joey, are also living in the White House. The first family is surrounded by a group of incompetent advisors, who cause more problems than they solve.

From the start, First Family is a character-driven movie, where each member of the Link family has their own quirks and personalities. President Link is portrayed as a clueless and absent-minded leader, who is completely unaware of everything that's going on around him. He's constantly making small but funny gaffes and comes across as a likable character. Ellen is the more level-headed member of the family, who's always looking for ways to sneak out of the White House and enjoy some peace away from the political life. Gloria is the most eccentric member of the family, is passionate about her fashion career, and has a crush on the presidential photographer. They all have incredible chemistry and make the most of the constraints of the plot.

As the plot advances, the movie shows the Tates facing a variety of challenges. Among their problems are the press, with the support of the White House press secretary, trying to find a story to write about the first family. But, as it always happens in life, there are more significant issues than the ones on the surface. The President learns that the Machiavellian Chief of Staff, who is in charge of running the White House, plans to take over the role of the Presidency, and will make sure that he is the one in charge if the President continues in his clueless ways.

With a funny and witty tone, First Family takes a lighthearted approach to show the political system's absurdities in a creative way. The comedy is mostly based on the irony of the circumstances and the comic performances of the actors. The script is well-written, and the cast primarily plays off each other with ease. Kahn, Radner, and Newhart all display excellent comedic acting, and their interactions and banter are a real highlight of the movie.

The movie's visuals are also noteworthy, as you get to see the White House become the Link family home. The impressive shots show the famous home from various angles, and the movie also takes advantage of the location to create some amusing visual gags, like the dining room set located next to the bowling alley.

Overall, First Family is an enjoyable comedy with a talented cast who is having a lot of fun. The story is engaging and filled with witty humor that feels right out of a sketch comedy show. It is a little dated when viewed through a modern lens, and the jokes' rhythm doesn't always land, but the cast's performances keep the humor flowing.

The movie's characters are all so different from one another, making First Family a film that's perfect for binge-watching on a weekend. While the film may not have been a smash hit when it was first released, it has endured over time and remained a classic political comedy that will entertain audiences for years to come. If you are looking for a light-hearted comedy with some undeniable charm, then First Family is worth watching.

First Family is a 1980 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.3.