With no viable candidate to challenge the juggernaut Republican incumbent in the California Senatorial race, an affable, idealistic attorney (Robert Redford) and son of the former governor is tapped to run. Given the promise that he will have free reign over his campaign, he swears off his lifelong aversion to politics and enters the race. As the people respond to his direct manner and the gap closes, he faces incredible temptation to compromise his ideals. Michael Ritchie's The Candidate features Redford at his most starry-eyed, but for a populist film that sets out to be so satirically biting, it is all kind of humdrum and pedestrian.
** 1/2 out ****
