Man with a Plan

A wonderful movie; Fred Tuttle's a charmer so refreshingly innocent who takes on the big time Washington politicians by running for public office. Soon after "Man with a Plan" was released, Fred actually ran for office here in Vermont, defeating the Republican candidate in the primary...Life imitates art!

"Spread Fred" became one of the slogans that raised our (Vermont's) hopes for a better kind of political climate in Washington. As a Vermonter who hoped to hear "Fr-e-e-d Tu-tt-le" echoing not only down the Tunbridge valley but the whole state and then the nation, I made sure that my vote (in events occurring after the movie, which actually should have been made into a sequel!!)for Fred helped squelched Jack (money) McMillan. (See review by "lightning.") In "The Man with a Plan", Fred demonstrates basic honesty, Vermont country thinking, willingness to learn new ways and, as well, by doing things just as he always had, teaching the folks around him what had worked for him. He kept his feet solidly on the ground at the same time that he listened to friends and his 90 year old father. I obtained a VHS version of Man with a Plan and have loaned it to friends, purchased one for each of my five children and have watched it many times. I feel that it IS Vermont.

This is one of the great films about politics, in that it's not really about politics, but about human triumphs and follies. It grounds its satire and commentary in its sympathy for the characters, more like The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington than Wag the Dog and All the President's men. It's not a polemic. Rather, the satire is not overdone, the commentary is subtle, and the humanity is overwhelming. Seriously now --don't we need more people like Fred Tuttle in government? I'd certainly vote for him! Because if Fred Tuttle can make it, then there is hope for this country in these dark times.

I caught this "documentary" on PBS, and it is one of the funniest and most creative films ever. John O'Brien decided to make a movie featuring the folks he knew while growing up in tiny Tunbridge, Vermont. O'Brien made Fred Tuttle, retired dairyman, the star of his 1996 film, "Man With a Plan." Tuttle runs for Congress because he needs the money. In real life, Tuttle entered the GOP primary against Jack McMullen, a millionaire from Massachusetts. McMullen spent $475,000 on his campaign while Tuttle spent about $200, mostly for portable toilets at "Fred Fest." The Harvard-educated lawyer and businessman came off badly when he mispronounced the names of Vermont towns or pieces of farming equipment. McMullen even said there were six teats on a cow. Tuttle won the primary by about 4,500 votes to face popular Senator Pat Leahy in the general election. But Tuttle didn't really want to be a Senator. Not everyone will think this film is great, but for those who do, it will be such a delectable treat.

An amazing movie that, although lower quality due to the only \$100,000 dollars spent on it, received over 1 million in the box office and stands as one of the greatest and yet most overlooked political movies of all time. *Man with a Plan* is a satirical masterpiece, brilliantly blending Vermont charm with biting political commentary. Fred Tuttle's performance is both hilarious and endearing, embodying the everyman with uncanny authenticity. The film's humor is understated but razor-sharp, skewering the absurdities of modern politics with homespun wit. For a microbudget production, its narrative power and grassroots appeal are unparalleled. A true cult classic and a must-watch for political junkies and indie film fans alike. 10/10.