Do you want to get a better understanding of how California politics work. here's the movie for you. It may be about what goes on in Washington, DC, but is there really any diference in the machinations of politicians? Washington? Sacramento? There's no real difference, is there? It's a 112 minute primer of Politics 101, but fortunately in the end Eddie gets a conscience, gets the girl and everybody ends up happily ever after. I wish we could say that about California. We shall see.

The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) is a comedy starring Eddie Murphy. The film was directed by Jonathan Lynn. In addition to Murphy, the film stars Lane Smith, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Joe Don Baker, Victoria Rowell, Grant Shaud, Kevin McCarthy, Charles S. Dutton, Victor Rivers, Chi McBride, Sonny Jim Gaines, and Noble Willingham.

The film is a comedy with a plot centered around politics, specifically members of Congress and what lobbyists will do to get what they want done in Washington, DC. The film generally begins a comedy but becomes more serious in tone as it progresses.

The film was released in December of 1992 and went on to gross over forty million dollars at the box office. The movie was panned by film critics. It came at a time when Murphy was experiencing a slump at the box office and this movie is considered one of his failures, though the film did win a couple of awards: the Environmental Media Awards granted the movie with the award for feature film of 1993, and in 2001 the Political Film Society awarded the film its special award of the year.

The film was shot at various locations in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, CA, Harrisburg, PA, Maryland, and Pasadena, CA.

-Synopsis-
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. A Florida con man uses the passing of the long time Congressman from his district who he just happens to share a name with, to get elected to his version of paradise, Congress, where the money flows from lobbyists. But soon he learns the nature of the game and decides to fight back the only way he knows how, with a con.

-Characters-
Thomas Jefferson Johnson (Eddie Murphy): The protagonist of the movie. A con artist who realizes he can get elected to Congress after the passing of a Congressman (James Garner) with the same name as him. He forms a plan with his crew and they are successful at getting him elected. He starts in Congress as planned, taking money and bribes from lobbyists. Later he realizes the wrong that is being done and he also realizes that he can be a very big help.

Dick Dodge (Lane Smith): Chairman of the Power and Industry Committee. He knows everything about Johnson from his past doings, what he is doing presently, and he tries to use Johnson as his own pawn. Johnson actually uses Dodge in the end to get what he wants in the end of the movie.

Miss Loretta Hicks (Sheryl Lee Ralph): The only female member of Johnson's crew. She is also his cousin. While doing cons at home she acts as the seductive female in the crew. While in Washington she is the liaison for Johnson and accompanies him most places.

Olaf Andersen (Joe Don Baker): He is the chief of a company called Gulf Coast Power. He is also the chief payor to Chairman Dodge's committee and pays almost anything to get his way. Johnson also uses him in the end to triumph.

Directed by Jonathan Lynn
Produced by Marty Kaplan, Leonard Goldberg & Michael Peyser
Written by Marty Kaplan & Jonathan Reynolds
Starring Eddie Murphy, Lane Smith, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Joe Don Baker, Victoria Rowell, Grant Shaud, Kevin McCarthy, Charles S. Dutton, Victor Rivers, Chi McBride, Sonny Jim Gaines & Noble Willingham
Music by Randy Edelman
Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures
Release date December 4, 1992
Running time 112 min.

You can find it at your local video or DVD rental store.