Hyde Park on Hudson

Daisy Suckley (Laura Linney) is summoned to her distant cousin’s house in upstate New York to help him relax. Nothing too unusual there, except her cousin is President Franklin Roosevelt (Bill Murray), and their relationship gradually turns into an affair. Much of the movie centers around a visit from the King and Queen of the UK as the prospect of war is brewing in Europe. The King and Queen come seeking America’s support should war break out, and are fearing that the US is decidedly neutral.

ClearPlay In Action!

About 15 instances of language are cut in the ClearPlayed version. Also cut is a scene of physical intimacy. There are still references to the President’s dalliances, so parents may want to limit viewing to mature teens and above. Despite the movie’s historical value, most kids (and a good portion of adults) will have a “Who cares?” attitude about the story.

The President having affairs! Does this mean war?…

The only war in Hyde Park is the assault on the audience’s ennui. Everyone is extremely polite and civil, even though it’s about affairs of state and, uh, affairs. It’s kind of like watching a Jane Austen adaptation except none of the characters are particularly interesting. Though they should be. Murray and Linney deliver fine performances, but in the end, Hyde Park on Hudson is a lot of nice scenery, with very little illumination.

Marty Nabhan— ClearPlay Chief of Staff

Rated R for brief sexuality; 94 min; Directed by Roger Michell