Barack Obama smokes … or used to … a lot. While this is hardly the edge of gripping insight into the President, writer/director Richard Tenne had to find some flaws in order to veer from a pure puff piece on the young adult lives of Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers) and (at the time) Michelle Robinson (Tike Sumpter). Aren’t we supposed to wait a bit before diving into the early years of a sitting President? It is literally impossible to make an objective movie about a current President. [See: W.] And perhaps Mr. Tenne had no intention of being objective; he just wanted to tell the Obamas love story as he saw it – good luck finding controversy there, pal.
Southside with You encapsulates the Barack and Michelle courtship into one single afternoon/evening extended date. This is almost certainly an amalgam of several dates or early relationship stories, but we let it all slide here for the sake of romantic efficiency. Lord knows ain’t nothin’ efficient about the United States’ government, so we get to go from Michelle’s insistence, “this isn’t a date” to coupleship in one tidy eighty minute loop; why the Prez and first lady didn’t even have to change clothes.
I’m a sucker for seeing the touchable origins of untouchable people. Michelle is a family girl, a doting daughter, and a struggling corporate law associate. Hey! I could be… none of those things! But they’re all still more approachable than FLOTUS. Barack is just a guy with a semi-functional matchbox car and a pack-a-day habit. I suppose he has some oratory skillz, but right now, he’s just another Romeo with student loans. And he likes Michelle. That much is clear. She doesn’t dislike him; but sees the boundaries instead of possibilities. For me, quite frankly, that would be enough – a woman who wants you sees it the other way around. And that’s among the myriad reasons I’m not the President.
What I liked best about this film is the idea that President Obama wasn’t above being a guy – he showed up late, he misled her on the agenda, he played to his strengths (venue-wise), and he clearly intended date when 
she said otherwise. I din’t expect to learn much, but found myself interested not only in the early careers of the FLOTUS and POTUS, but also got some insight into the guy who did all the paintings for “Good Times.” (Ernie Barnes, FWIW) Michelle’s admission of being more of a “Brady Bunch” girl was, thus, unintentionally hilarious.
I can’t say the date didn’t drag a bit. When it comes down to it, this film is essentially a poor man’s Before Sunrise, and without the conflict. I invented my own: “if these two don’t couple, somebody else becomes the 44th President of the United States.” Perhaps you can invent your own Back to the Future-like backstory. If you don’t the Obamas now, you certainly aren’t going to like younger versions of them, and yet, there are certainly many, many worse date films you can go to. And so few involve U.S. Presidents, you know?
Some future presidential first date highlights:
TommyJeff put all his love in ink
Willie H-squared saw it end in a blink
Harry S. dropped the bomb on his date
Wild Bill tried to leave his blue state
Groovy Grover had a break in between
The girl wore red, and Ronnie turned mean
For health reasons, Frankie D. would decline
Tricky Dick was downstairs tapping her line
Dubya got the girl instead of Gore
Abe-y Baby tried to four score
Rated PG-13, 84 Minutes
D: Richard Tanne
W: Richard Tanne
Genre: Obam-awwwwwwww
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: “Eight more years!”
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Let’s just start with every obstructionist member of congress and work our way out
