Arriving in the troubled Latin American nation of Parador to shoot a movie entitled "Blood on the Plaza," chronically underemployed actor Jack Noah (Richard Dreyfuss) is whisked into a waiting limo by armed men.
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He arrives at the country's swingingest nightspot to be met by the club's owner, Roberto Strausmann (Raul Julia), who just happens to also be the chief of the country's secret police. He is also met by the corpse of Alphonse Simms (Lorin Dreyfuss), the Supreme Ruler of Parador, who has just suffered a massive heart attack.
The situation, Strausmann explains, is this: The country's economy is woefully fragile and the nation is beset by rebels. The only thing standing between Parador and chaos is the strong hand of the president. And from now on, Jack Noah will be the president--or else.
Although Jack is at first understandably reluctant to impersonate the ruler of a country, he quickly gets into "the role of a lifetime" after he gets a taste of the dictator's luxurious quarters, as well as the cheering throngs who hang on his every word.
But things are not all wine and roses. While "Presidente Simms" is out mingling with the commonweal, and seducing his predecessor's vivacious mistress (Sonia Braga), Strausmann rules the country from behind the scenes, and soon comes to the conclusion that perhaps having a frontman is more trouble than it's worth.
The review of this Movie prepared by James Craver
