Focus Features
95 min., dir. by Roger Michell, with Bill Murray, Laura Linney, and Olivia Williams

In certain contexts, Bill Murray and Franklin Delano Roosevelt are simply two of the most polarizing figures in American history. Murray’s portrayal of the 32nd president has already caused enough of a draw to propel Hyde Park on Hudson onto everyone’s list of films to see, but this is not a film about FDR. Well, in some ways it is, but then again, it isn’t. Frankly, Hyde Park on Hudson doesn’t know what story it’s telling.

Margaret Stuckley (Laura Linney), known to most as Daisy, leads a pretty simple life. Her life solely consists of caring for her mother, till one day she receives a phone call. Her distant cousin requires her presence at his upstate New York home. Daisy drops everything and leaves her mother to join her cousin, who just happens to be Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Murray). During hard times or trying situations, FDR called on relatives to keep him company, claiming it relaxed him. Almost without hesitation though, Daisy becomes more than just a distant family member as she begins a torrid affair with the president. This all leads up to one telling weekend when King George and Queen Elizabeth (Samuel West and Olivia Colman) visit the Roosevelt estate.

King George and Queen Elizabeth are the first monarchs to ever visit a sitting president, and everyone knows the king and queen are looking for America’s support in their looming war with Germany. The weekend full of special relationships might be one of the most important linchpins in world history, and Daisy has a front seat for it all.

Hyde Park on Hudson is told from Daisy’s point of view, based on a hidden diary unearthed on her property shortly after her death. Until that point, the world had never heard her name. By presenting Daisy’s voice as the narrator, one would suspect her’s is the important journey we should be following. Yet the entire process is a flip-flopping affair of who’s the most important character on screen. Each side story and character’s tale converge for a singular thematic goal, yet the inability to focus on a pure center leaves a viewers mind yearning for solidity. While that weekend in 1939 is gratifying in terms of historical interest, one has to wonder why a full explanatory venture wasn’t dedicated to discover how the hell arguably the greatest president in American history got away with banging his cousin, no matter how many time she was removed.

Bill Murray is still the reason many people will see Hyde Park on the Hudson anyway, so who cares about a story? While this is the first and only time I can conjure in my mind where Murray has played a historical figure or created and maintained a believable accent, the performance is lacking in substance. There are some moments of that glorious subtle face exuding emotions with the smallest of muscle tweaks, but mainly this is Murray forcing a boastful personality into a cartoonish caricature. It’s not a poor performance, but nor is it a knock-down stunner in any way.

From its humdrum delivery to its blinding overindulgence in itself, Hyde Park on Hudson is nothing more than a flash in the pan. Hedging its bets in too many places, it never culminates into a full package. I really wanted to love Murray as FDR as many will, but raving about a performance that doesn’t live up to expectations just feels wrong — kind of like diddling your cousin.

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Matthew Schuchman is the founder and film critic of Movie Reviews From Gene Shalit’s Moustache and also the contributing film writer for IPaintMyMind.