Starring:
Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Sam Elliott, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe, William H. Macy, Adam Brody, David Koechner and Robert Duvall

Director:
Jason Reitman

Running Time:
92 mins

Out to buy on DVD 08/01/07

• Exceptionally funny satirical comedy
• Excellent ensemble cast
• Intelligent comedy that is much more than just a dig at the US government and corporate America

• Could be a little preachy for some

"Why would the Tobacco industry want this young man to die? We want him to live and keep buying cigarettes"

Nick Naylor (Eckhart) is a lobbyist for the tobacco industry. He is the face of cigarettes on television and one of the most reviled men in America but he loves his job. Senator Finistirre (William H. Macy) has big tobacco in his sights however, and Nick is the man he wants to appear before a senate committee, as he pushes for new labelling on cigarette packaging. This doesn't faze Nick however, in fact he is looking forward to it.

Satirical comedies can be very hit and miss but once in a while a movie comes along that hits the mark and instantly becomes a classic.

'Thank You For Smoking' is one of those movies. Jason Reitman, the son of 'Ghostbusters' director Ivan Reitman, is at the helm and writes this look at spin-doctors, big business and the US Government and he creates a movie that will inform and entertain you at the same time. Taking place in modern America with invented conglomerates and societies, the young writer/director introduces us to the M.O.D. (Merchants Of Death) Squad, lobbyists and masters of spin for Alcohol, Firearms and most importantly Tobacco. These are the men and women who are the public face of the companies that account for over half a million American deaths a year, allegedly.

By far the best of the three is Nick Naylor and he has to be because he represents the biggest killer of the three, big tobacco. With the US Senate gunning for him, public opinion been swayed towards the negative because of the health risks and the media also pushing for a complete ban, Nick has his work cut out for him but he is truly gifted with it comes to pushing the positives of the cigarette industry. Charismatic and brimming with confidence, Nick can put a positive spin on anything, even a fifteen-year-old boy dying of lung cancer but now he is facing his biggest challenge and it isn't the fact that Senator Finistirre is gunning for him personally, it is making sure that his son still sees him as a positive role model.

Bringing Nick Naylor to life is a career defining performance from Aaron Eckhart. While showing his potential in the 1997 movie 'In the Company of Men', he has graced many a commercial Hollywood film but with this role he gets to return to the character driven comedy genre that got him noticed in the first place. Nick Naylor is a character that you really shouldn't like because his job is almost deplorable and his reason for doing it is just as bad but his pure charisma and charm make him almost infectious. He is the main protagonist and is almost in every scene as well as narrating the story but a lesser actor could not have pulled off this role with the same skill and passion.

His supporting cast is also exceptional. Maria Bello and David Koechner are very funny as fellow M.O.D. Squad members Polly Bailey, the Alcohol lobbyist and Bobby Jay Bliss, the spin-doctor for the Firearms industry. J.K. Simmons is hysterical as big Tobacco's second in command BR and Robert Duvall is on his usual first class form as the big man of Tobacco, the Captain. Cameron Bright is actually watchable for the first time of his career as Nick's son Joey. Rob Lowe plays his best role in years as Hollywood super agent Jeff Megall and 'The O.C.'s Adam Brody is hilarious as his assistant Jack. Kate Holmes goes completely against type as super bitch reporter Heather Holloway. William H. Macy oozes class as anti-tobacco activist Senator Finistirre and Sam Elliot is the very bitter symbol for the industry, the original Marlboro Man.

'Thank You for Smoking' is satirical comedy at its most intelligent and funny. Poking fun at not just at the cigarette industry but at big business, Hollywood, the political correctness of the US government and the slow removal of everyone civil liberties. Brilliant and extremely funny, this is a movie that will have you laughing out loud and thinking at the same time.