Man with a Plan (1996) User Reviews

Riotously Funny

[IndyAnney · 9/10 · 19 November 2000]

Don't miss this movie if you have to spend forever hunting down a copy. Fred Tuttle and the other characters are priceless. Fred, a 73 year old Vermont farmer, needs money to build a new barn and pay for his 94 year old father's hip replacement. (Insert light bulb here). He decided to run for office as the pay is $80,000. And so starts Fred's campaign.

We all need a "Man With a Plan."

[lightninboy · 10/10 · 6 May 2005]

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.

One of the great Political Films

[juvenalxx · 10/10 · 14 August 2004]

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.

Sweet....

[Ed-90 · 10/10 · 3 April 1999]

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!

Fred showed Vermont hearts and political ideas with humor and sagacity.

[lparent-1 · 10/10 · 27 April 2006]

"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.

Great Movie - Buy DVD at Vermont public television

[mail-704-790404 · 10/10 · 4 April 2010]

The movie is great and fun to watch.

Everybody who likes Vermont should see it. It is fun entertainment and the fact that Fred Tuttle subsequently ran in and won the Republican primary for real against a rich out-of-stater who wanted to buy a Senate seat makes it even better.

The DVD has the eulogy on Fred Tuttle by Vermont public radio telling that story as an extra.

The DVD does not show up on Amazon as available but you can order it at the online store of Vermont Public television (www.vpt.org/store).

Get it and enjoy!

brilliant

[fooK · 9 November 1999]

This mockumentary is one of the freshest and most hillarious things that I have seen in a long time. Fred Tuttle is one of the most charismatic and humorous people. I saw this movie in my government class. It has a powerful message that the people of the US can do anything that they want. Anyone who appreciates real comedy should see this movie.