By playing the political satire straight, Newell and screenwriter Elaine May drained Primary Colors of all its potential vibrancy, leaving only a bland dramedy in its place.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 4, 2023

The film makes a good pseudo-documentary and presents several ideas that should be considered when looking at the presidency of the man everyone feels cheats on his wife, but can still effectively run the country.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Feb 6, 2023

Primary Colors has some wonderful comic moments, but it doesn't enlighten us much about the political process.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 2, 2023

Primary Colors, Nichols' second feature with screenwriter and former stand-up comedy partner Elaine May, is mainstream filmmaking at its most accomplished.

| Aug 8, 2019

The performances are splendid, beginning with Travolta's magnificent turn as the big-hearted but hardballing man with 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on his horizon.

| Mar 21, 2019

If you take away the eerie similarities to the Clinton campaign,Primary Colors serves as a fine satire in its own right.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Feb 19, 2019

Primary Colors perfectly captures the spirit of its topic and time to become The Big Chill of politics.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jan 9, 2018

Well-acted drama full of Clinton-era jabs.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 15, 2010

A savvy and thought-provoking look at the nature of contemporary American politics.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 30, 2009

Travolta is amazingly Clintonesque as Stanton, a role that I never believed he could pull off.

| Jan 7, 2009

The film owes a few doggie bones to "Wag the Dog," which came first in pointing out what Primary Colors only seconds.

| Original Score: C+ | Nov 3, 2008

Successfully straddles the line between comedy and tragedy.

| Original Score: B | Sep 22, 2007

Primary Colors becomes a political morality play, and quite frankly, its mechanics cause it to crawl in across the finish line.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 13, 2007

As satire, it's toothless and indulgent; as drama of conscience, it's not a patch on real life...

| Jun 24, 2006

It used to be that we had to wait 20 years for the fictionalization of history -- now that gap seems to have closed to less than five years. Kinda sad. But also kinda entertaining!

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

John Travolta has himself a good deal of fun with his take-off on President Clinton.

| Original Score: B | Apr 9, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Apr 2, 2005

an alarmingly topical comedy-drama that dredges up far more issues than it can address in its two-and-a-half hours. But give Nichols, writer Elaine May and everyone else an 'A' for effort.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 31, 2003

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 20, 2003

John Travolta continues to establish himself as one of the best actors of the younger generation, and this may be his best job yet.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 8, 2003