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‘North Hollywood’ Review: Vince Vaughn Goes Indie in a Skateboarder Coming-of-Age Story

David ehrlich.

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There are countless different coming-of-age movies about kids who learn to blaze their own trail and become the best possible version of themselves (shoutout to the pride of Sacramento, Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson), but “North Hollywood” is one of the rare few that actually embodies the courage of its convictions both on-screen and off. On second thought, make that less on-screen than off.

Written and directed by Mikey Alfred (a 25-year-old renaissance man whose prior accomplishments include founding the skateboard company Illegal Civ and co-producing Jonah Hill’s “ Mid90s ”), “North Hollywood” grinds out a familiar but knowing portrait of a scrawny California teen who’s forced to choose between the beaten path and his dream of becoming the next Tony Hawk. Half-sketched as its drama can be, Alfred’s feature-length fiction debut is sustained by a complete lack of poser energy and a few new tweaks on some classic tricks; come for Vince Vaughn downshifting into his indie dad phase, stay for the woozy retro vibe that evokes a timeless sense of starry-eyed youth by layering mid-century Doo-wop from the likes of Arthur Lee Maye and The Chiffons over modern skate footage.

But nothing in the movie itself is as memorable or convincing a testament to the power of self-belief as the story of how it became a hit. Rejected by Sundance — despite a relatively stacked cast and a motley crew of producers that includes hitmaker Pharrell Williams and Netflix heartthrob Noah Centineo — and declined by distributors who hadn’t forgotten how A24 struggled to generate any traction with “Mid90s,” Alfred eventually opted for a straight-to-the-people approach that saw him skip the (virtual) fest circuit and upload his baby to iTunes with all the fanfare of an amateur podcast.

As we near the end of its first week in the wild, “North Hollywood” is currently the second-most popular movie on iTunes, behind “The Marksman” (starring Liam Neeson, the Lebron James of VOD) but ahead of “proper” indies like “French Exit,” well-advertised new rentals like “Chaos Walking,” and Oscar-winning stalwarts like “Nomadland” and “The Father.” Yes, some of those titles are also available to stream at no additional cost on other platforms, but they also had seven-figure PR campaigns and prime berths at Venice and TIFF. “North Hollywood” had three nights on an Inglewood drive-in screen. Whatever assortment of niches lifted this thing towards the top of the charts (skate kids, Miranda Cosgrove superfans, uncles who are still ride or die for Vaughn, etc.), it’s compelling evidence that people can still forge their own “yes” from a world that keeps telling them “no.”

“North Hollywood” strives to convey a similar message, but things get a bit muddled once you actually start watching the movie. Ex-professional skater Ryder McLaughlin — doing all of his own stunts, none riskier than the slick-backed hair style he sports to sustain that vintage Americana vibe — delivers a raw yet elusive lead performance as Michael, the kind of 18-year-old kid who spends a lot of time looking at the bathroom mirror in search of whoever he’s supposed to be. His construction worker single dad (Vaughn) offers him one of two options: Go to college, or slap on a hardhat and start working alongside his old man. Oliver isn’t necessarily a dick about it, but, well, he’s Vince Vaughn. He talks fast, he stands tall, and his worldview is about as flexible as the cadence of his jokes.

If Michael feels handcuffed to a future he doesn’t want, his ultra-believable yet perilously under-written best friends are both stuck in holding patterns of their own. The rich and spacey Jay (“Booksmart” standout Nico Hiraga) is going to have to get serious about his life by the time Labor Day rolls around, while the inexplicably named Adolf (played without a false note by Aramis Hudson) doesn’t share Michael’s ambition to go pro. For him, the “North Hollywood” trio — so named for the locale they’ve all written in Sharpie along the sides of their matching Converse sneakers — is more than just a safety blanket or a means to an end. So when Michael starts ditching his friends to flirt with the Stanford-bound Rachel (Cosgrove) and follow the local skate legends around like an overeager puppy, it’s the worst thing that’s happened to Adolf since the day his dad named him.

On that note, the movie is oddly mom-less — a strange wrinkle to a story that mines personal experience for palpable verisimilitude (Alfred’s first brush with showbiz resulted from his own mother working as Robert Evans’ personal assistant for 37 years). “North Hollywood” keys into masculine coding and inheritance as something of a zero-sum game, as it plunges into the heart of Michael’s crew and paints a vivid picture of how they operate together. With years of skate videos under his belt and an eye-popping cinematographer (Ayinde Anderson) at his side, Alfred knows exactly how to crystallize the kinetic energy that teens create from tormenting security guards and goofing on each other. The early scenes of Michael, Jay, and Adolf grinding on stairwells or loitering outside a restaurant that’s lit like a neon sock hop convey a bone-deep sense of belonging. “North Hollywood” drops in like a house on fire and builds an extremely promising foundation in the span of a few choice moments.

If only the 90 minutes that follow were able to build anything on it. The personal yet increasingly scattershot movie that Alfred churns out of his memories is as wayward as its leading man. Like Michael, “North Hollywood” is told with a steely determination and an eye toward something big. And, like Michael, the oodles of natural talent that it relies upon are defused by an uncertainty over how to use them.

The vague concern that Michael is outgrowing his friends and his father — voiced aloud by Adolf in a last-minute scene that lacks the muscle required to carry the whole story on its shoulders — is the closest the film comes to a consistent through-line, but “North Hollywood” is far too shapeless to meaningfully funnel its characters toward their futures. Cosgrove brings plenty of doe-eyed sweetness to the table, but Rachel’s only job is to pull Michael out of his comfort zone, and the stilted romance between them never passes the smell test (Michael won’t even drink out of a water bottle that’s touched her lips). Meanwhile, Vaughn disappears until the time is right for a wallop of tough love, Gillian Jacobs is stuck playing a guidance counselor in a weird scene that only seems to exist because Gillian Jacobs agreed to be in it, while Adolph and Jay are forced into the background as Michael convinces himself that his dreams can’t come true so long as his best friends — the realest part of his life — are still by his side.

Where does the time go? Most of “North Hollywood” is spent on an aimless free skate through Michael’s post-adolescent fog. That might have been a less enervating choice in a film that leaned into its shapelessness, but Alfred can’t peel himself away from the basic contours of a coming-of-age story. The result is a lived-in movie that knows its characters by heart and remains ineffably true to them during their most candid moments, but can’t muster the momentum it needs to push them towards places they aren’t ready to go. Michael’s journey ends with such a shruggy line of unmotivated voiceover that it almost feels as if “North Hollywood” has lost faith in its hero’s ability to succeed on his own terms. One way or the other, that faith has finally been restored.

“North Hollywood” is now available to rent or buy on iTunes.

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North Hollywood

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Mikey Alfred

Ryder McLaughlin

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Angus Cloud

Nico Hiraga

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North Hollywood (2021)

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Albert Hughes to Direct 'North Hollywood' Movie Based on Deadly 1997 Shootout

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You know who's never made a bad movie? Albert Hughes . Seriously, we don't talk about this guy enough. He made several good movies with his brother Allen, including Menace II Society , Dead Presidents and The Book of Eli , before going out on his own last year with the visually stunning coming-of-age film  Alpha , which earned solid reviews from critics. Now Hughes has set his next feature, and it's a return to Dead Presidents territory for him.

Hughes is set to direct North Hollywood , based on the true story of the deadly 1997 North Hollywood shootout, for Greg Silverman 's Stampede, which has also set Inside Man scribe Russell Gewirtz to write the script. Stuart Ford 's AGC Studios has come onboard the project as principal financier, with additional financing to come from Stampede, which is producing in partnership with Cedar Park and Industry Entertainment.

Hughes will examine the events of February 28, 1997, when war came to the streets of LA as a military-style shootout ravaged North Hollywood and became the largest gun battle in the history of American law enforcement. The film tells the story of the ill-equipped heroes who confronted heavily armed bank robbers Larry Phillips Jr. and  Emil Matasareanu .

Silverman and Stampede's Lisa Zambri will produce alongside Cedar Park’s David Ayer and Chris Long , as well as Industry’s Stephen Crawford and Ava Jamshidi . Ford and Stampede’s Gideon Yu and Chris Bosco will serve as executive producers. Production will begin early next year in New Mexico, and Hughes and the producers are already in advanced discussions for the film’s ensemble cast.

“Albert is the dream partner to bring this story to life with his signature style and authentic eye for detail. We’re beyond thrilled to be working with him. This is an incredible true story many of us remember, and Russel’s script is just electric -- a staggering work of drama and violence fueled by media obsession. It’s a cautionary tale for the world we find ourselves in,” said Silverman.

“ North Hollywood is a gritty, ultra-realistic action thriller, and Albert is the perfect filmmaker to bring such a kinetic, powerful true story to the screen,” added Ford.

In addition to the aforementioned films, Hughes also co-directed the 2001 serial killer thriller From Hell starring Johnny Depp , and he recently wrapped Showtime's adaptation of The Good Lord Bird starring Ethan Hawke . CAA represents Hughes and Gewirtz, who is also repped by Industry Entertainment.

• Albert Hughes

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North hollywood.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 2 Reviews
• Kids Say 2 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Coming-of-age tale has language, drinking, drugs.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that North Hollywood is the story of high school senior trying to figure out how to become a professional skateboarder while maintaining his long friendships and without disappointing his overbearing father. Teens and younger kids smoke marijuana. Older teens drink alcohol and smoke…

Why Age 16+?

Frequent use of "f--k," "s--t," "d--k," "bitch," "ass," "suck," "butt," and "pis

Someone mentions a beer bong. Kids smoke marijuana. Older teens drink alcohol an

A teenager is punched and beaten several times, leaving bruises on his face. A f

A boy seems to have spent the night at his girlfriend's house after they kiss. I

Any Positive Content?

Follow your dreams even if you don't have a plan. Money won't fix your problems.

Michael lies constantly but thinks it's okay because he believes he's justified.

Frequent use of "f--k," "s--t," "d--k," "bitch," "ass," "suck," "butt," and "piss," and the "N" word. Someone gives the middle finger gesture.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Someone mentions a beer bong. Kids smoke marijuana. Older teens drink alcohol and smoke marijuana and cigarettes. It appears that some are using harder, unnamed drugs.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

A teenager is punched and beaten several times, leaving bruises on his face. A father raising his son alone seems hard-hearted, insensitive, and overbearing, then out of nowhere turns nice. Teenagers steal skateboards from the mall. At what seems to be a crack house, an older guy "offers" sex with a stoned woman to a younger teen.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A boy seems to have spent the night at his girlfriend's house after they kiss. It's implied they had sex. Boys suggest that they can see from the pants outline that someone has a small penis. A boy bares his buttocks to show disrespect to security guards.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Positive role models.

Michael lies constantly but thinks it's okay because he believes he's justified. He wants to leave his old friends behind because he thinks they're immature, but he denies his own immaturity.

Parents need to know that North Hollywood is the story of high school senior trying to figure out how to become a professional skateboarder while maintaining his long friendships and without disappointing his overbearing father. Teens and younger kids smoke marijuana. Older teens drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes and also seem to use harder drugs. Language includes "f--k," "s--t," "d--k," "bitch," "ass," "suck," "butt," and "piss," as well as the "N" word. A teenager is punched and beaten several times, leaving bruises on his face. A boy seems to have spent the night at his girlfriend's house after they kiss. It's implied they had sex. Boys suggest that they can see from the pants outline that someone has a small penis. A boy bares his buttocks to show disrespect to security guards. At what seems to be a crack house, an older guy "offers" sex with a stoned woman to a younger teen. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (2)
• Kids say (2)

Based on 2 parent reviews

I’m 14 and In my opinion this movie is fitting for younger audiences

It’s ok for kids, what's the story.

In NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Michael (Ryder McLaughlin) is a high school senior, altar boy, and skateboard fanatic. The hopelessly-clueless kid has no social skills and no understanding of how the real world works. He dreams of becoming a professional skateboarder, but doesn't seem to have especially extraordinary skills in that area nor any idea of how to make that dream happen. He hopes Walker (Angus Cloud), a slightly older stoner in the neighborhood, will introduce him to the local pros, Isiah and Nolan (Tyshawn Jones and Bob Worrest). Another impediment to reaching his dream is a hard-driving insensitive father ( Vince Vaughan ), who expects Michael to either go to college or join him in the construction business, neither of which interest Michael. Instead, he lies to his dad, pretending to be meeting with school counselors and sending out applications. One of his two best friends, Adolf (Aramis Hudson), is already working a job. Hoping to leave his immature friends behind, Michael gets the attention of older professional skaters in the neighborhood, hoping they'll lead him to a pro career, with sponsors and free merch. He does all of this while his old friends still support him. After breaking a board, Michael steals one and gets caught. He's grounded by his angry father, which doesn't stop him from spending the night with new girlfriend Rachel ( Miranda Cosgrove ). When the dad recognizes all the lies, he drags Michael to work at his construction worksite. What will happen to Michael?

Is It Any Good?

This coming-of-age tale just doesn't work . North Hollywood feels as if it's been pasted together with a series of afterthoughts, as if writer-director Mikey Alfred, working from autobiographical material, didn't recognize the plot's gaping holes until after all the scenes were shot. Alfred has the potential to be a skilled filmmaker and writer, but he isn't there yet. So this may have lots of appeal for the skateboarding community, but it misses the opportunity to be feel more universal. Coming-of-age stories usually showcase a sympathetic lead character's baseline immaturities, then show gradual behavior corrections, leaving us with hope for the character's growth. There's much to relate to here for any kid who has a passion and who feels misunderstood by parents. But where's he growth? How much more affecting this would be if that were shown. We understand a son who repeatedly lies to his overbearing father, but he lies to his best friends, too, making Michael increasingly difficult to root for. And the more he lies, the less reason we're given to believe he values his old friendships.

So late in the action, when we are suddenly told how important one friend is, it comes as a shock. Also, everything about Michael's college application activities seem far too vague for an overbearing father not to notice. Somehow other kids know where they're going to school, but Michael is still pretending to be working on his applications. Then he claims he's been wait-listed at several colleges, without filing applications? Surely his dad would put all of these contradictions together. Most puzzling of all is that skateboard footage doesn't make Michael look like a better skateboarder than you can find at any urban park in America. What exactly about his skills catches the eye of the local pros? And when his board cracks and he's caught stealing a new one, what happens after? We see him skateboarding later. Where did he get the new board? The final inexplicable moment comes when a blustery dad shows sudden stores of empathy and understanding out of nowhere. The closing scene shows the kid, who has told his dad he's leaving home for a skateboarding life, gliding through an upscale suburban street. What's the message? No clue.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the father's point of view. Why do you think the dad is so hard on Michael? The dad seems to completely turn around in the end. Why do you think he did that? Were you surprised?

Do you think Michael has a real plan for his future? How do you think things will turn out for him? Why?

Why do you think Rachel likes Michael? What qualities does he have that she might find attractive?

Movie Details

• In theaters : April 26, 2021
• On DVD or streaming : May 14, 2021
• Cast : Ryder Mclaughlin , Miranda Cosgrove , Vince Vaughn , Aramis Hudson , Nico Hiraga
• Director : Mikey Alfred
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Middle Eastern/North African actors, Asian actors
• Studio : Illegal Civilization
• Genre : Drama
• Run time : 93 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : May 20, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

The Graduate

Dazed and Confused

The Edge of Seventeen

Napoleon Dynamite

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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

North Hollywood (2021) Stream and Watch Online

Watch 'north hollywood' online.

Fancy watching ' North Hollywood ' on your TV or mobile device at home? Searching for a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the Mikey Alfred-directed movie via subscription can be challenging, so we here at Moviefone want to do the work for you. We've listed a number of streaming and cable services - including rental, purchase, and subscription choices - along with the availability of 'North Hollywood' on each platform when they are available. Now, before we get into all the details of how you can watch 'North Hollywood' right now, here are some particulars about the Illegal Civilization drama flick. Released May 14th, 2021, 'North Hollywood' stars Ryder McLaughlin , Miranda Cosgrove , Vince Vaughn , Angus Cloud The NR movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 34 min, and received a user score of 57 (out of 100) on TMDb, which compiled reviews from 31 knowledgeable users. You probably already know what the movie's about, but just in case... Here's the plot: "NORTH HOLLYWOOD follows Michael (Ryder McLaughlin) as he tries to answer the question every high school kid faces when they graduate: What'™s next? Michael'™s best friends already seem to have it figured out; one is going to college, and the other is going to work, but Michael is caught somewhere in between. He'™s an aspiring professional skateboarder with the talent to back it up, but his blue collar father, Oliver (Vince Vaughn), thinks it'™s a pipe dream. Oliver wants Michael to either get a college degree and pursue a more conventional career, or join him in the construction business. Over the course of the film Michael is torn in multiple directions: Should he go to college or get a job? Should he chase the career of his dreams or go for the girl? Should he choose the life that his dad wants or the life that he wants? " 'North Hollywood' is currently available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on Vudu, Google Play Movies, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, VUDU Free, Peacock, Hoopla, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Peacock Premium , YouTube, Amazon Prime Video , Hulu , The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, and Pluto TV .

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‘North Hollywood’ Ending, Explained

Michael has a dream. He wants to be a pro skater and make it his profession. But with a conservative father around, the dreams seem far-fetched. North Hollywood portrays his journey from being an inhibited son to a boy who expresses his desires and pursues his dream, unbothered about the outcome. But traveling on the path of one’s own dreams could be challenging and sometimes lonely. If you are reading this article, you have already experienced Michael’s commitment, but there is something that is still open-ended, that we are going to discuss here.

Did Michael’s girlfriend, Rachel leave him?

Rachel gets admission to Stanford University. She offers Michael to come with her, but a possibility of college would kill his dreams of becoming a Pro Skater. Michael, therefore, decides to stay back. His decision creates a distance between the two. Rachel tells him that she likes him and it will always remain the same but Michael knows in his heart that the journey with Rachel has come to an end.

What happened to Michael’s friends Jay and Adolf?

Michael gets assured of himself and his dreams, even more, when pro skaters praised his skills. He stopped hanging out with his old buddies, Jay and Adolf. While Jay ignored the fact, Adolf was extremely vocal about Michael’s changed behavior.

When everyone was leaving for college, Michael decided to stay back and thought of making peace with his long-time friends. While Jay melted without trouble, Adolf still had a sour spot. Michael thought Adolf was jealous of him for hanging out with pro skaters, to which Adolf told him that he wasn’t jealous, but was pissed because Michael ditched his childhood friends to gain attention.

Michael realizes his mistake and makes peace with Adolf. He also invites Adolf for a tour to San Francisco with the pro skaters. But Adolf rejects it, telling Michael that it was never his dream to become a pro skater, it was Michael’s ambition and he just wanted to support his buddy.

Did Michael’s father approve of his dream?

In the last conversation with his father, Michael expresses his dream to become a pro skater and unwillingness to go to college. His father raises his concern about the profession that might waste Michael’s future. Michael ardently speaks that he still wants to try. He understands his father’s perspective, who as a parent wants to protect him and secure his future. But what he is going to do with a safe life if it would be without dreams he wants to live.

In the end, he accepts Michael and his dreams. He says, “ I love you no matter what you do. ” I guess, Michael might not have convinced his father totally, but he did persuade him to be there for him, in times, when he needed someone. Failure or success, Michael wanted his father to be by his side.

Did Michael become a Pro Skater?

The last visual portrays Michael skating on his board symbolizing that his pursuit is still on. He spells out the same through his words, “ In the pursuit of things I want, I lost the things I need. I am alone. ”

To pursue his dreams of becoming a pro skater, Michale left behind his love Rachel, his friend Adolf, and his father’s expectation. He didn’t go to college, he didn’t choose a safe life, but Michael chose what was best for him, his dreams.

North Hollywood subtly captures the confusion and fear of chasing one’s dream. Through Michael’s journey, the film inspires many others to walk the path they seem fit. Failure could be a possibility but failing to chase one’s dream is a much bigger regret.

North Hollywood is a 2021 coming of age drama film written and directed by Mikey Alfred .

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'without blood' review: salma hayek pinault and demián bichir in angelina jolie's overly cautious war parable, tiff: cate blanchett, angelina jolie, amy adams add star wattage at post-strikes toronto fest tribute awards, nutcrackers.

Green acknowledges a debt to youth films like The Bad News Bears and Breaking Away , expressing his desire to tell a story without cynicism, in which the young characters are unencumbered by the usual movie-ish gloss. In that aspect, he succeeds thanks to the spontaneity of the Janson brothers, who are clearly in their element playing unruly, home-schooled pranksters and looking after the pets and livestock that roam freely in and out of the messy house.

Renamed the Kicklighters for this fictional experiment, they range from Justice (Homer Janson) who’s 12; middle child Junior (Ulysses Janson), 10; and 8-year-old twins Samuel and Simon (Atlas and Arlo Janson).

Another of the films Green cites as an influence is Uncle Buck , and Stiller’s Michael in many ways serves a similar function to John Candy’s title character in that comedy. Except that Michael is no boozing slob. But nor is he a classic Stiller neurotic. A joyless real estate developer, he rolls into Ohio in his ostentatious yellow Porsche expecting to sign a few papers authorizing the foster-family placement of his nephews — orphaned when both parents were killed in a car accident. But things don’t go so smoothly.

Michael, or Mike, as the brothers insist on calling him once they finally decide to speak to him, is less than thrilled to be stuck looking after four near-feral children instead of being back in Chicago finalizing a major real estate deal he’s been working on for six years. He knows nothing about them and all they seem to know about him is that their mother once said he was incapable of love.

The Kicklighter boys are a fun collective presence, maintaining a close-knit bond even if Justice sidles off into occasional solitude, nursing a crush on Mia (Maren Heisler), a girl from dance class. All but the eldest have long golden hair, which gives them an ethereal aura in contrast to the voracious appetite for chaos that makes them such a handful.

The Jansons being nonprofessional actors, their dialogue is often mumbled and lost. But they make up for it with the authenticity of their connection to the film’s world and their bone-deep unity as actual siblings, often all talking at once.

There’s charm in the way Michael’s final walls of resistance are broken down, via a performance the boys stage in town of The Nutcracker’s Mustache , their own radical rewrite of the Tchaikovsky ballet. That also serves as a tribute to their deceased parents, a melancholy note of loss that otherwise goes mostly unexplored.

Perhaps in order not to give the boys too much heavy lifting in the acting department, the script generally is less interested in the brothers’ grief than in Michael’s rediscovery of a heart, an organ obviously not required in the soulless world of real estate. He lightens up over fond childhood remembrances of playing with his younger sister, a part of his life and a central figure in it that he had archived away.

Nutcrackers is not exactly robust as uplifting family comedies go, but for audiences willing to get in sync with Green’s free-flowing groove, the emotional payoff will be affecting.

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Movie Review: Quaid looks (and sounds) the part, but ‘Reagan’ is more glowing commercial than biopic

This image released by ShowBiz Direct shows Dennis Quaid in a scene from “Reagan.” (ShowBiz Direct via AP)

This image released by ShowBiz Direct shows Dennis Quaid in a scene from “Reagan.” (Ron Batzdorff/ShowBiz Direct via AP)

This image released by ShowBiz Direct shows Penelope Ann Miller, right, and Dennis Quaid in a scene from “Reagan.” (Beth Dubber/ShowBiz Direct via AP)

This image released by ShowBiz Direct shows Penelope Ann Miller, left, and Dennis Quaid in a scene from “Reagan.” (Ron Batzdorff/ShowBiz Direct via AP)

This image released by ShowBiz Direct shows Olek Krupa, left, and Dennis Quaid in a scene from “Reagan.” (ShowBiz Direct via AP)

This image released by ShowBiz Direct shows Dennis Quaid in a scene from “Reagan.” (Noah Hamilton/ShowBiz Direct via AP)

This image released by ShowBiz Direct shows David Henrie in a scene from “Reagan.” (ShowBiz Direct via AP)

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“Is there anything worse than an actor with a cause?” asks an annoyed Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan’s first wife, early in “Reagan,” the new biopic starring Dennis Quaid.

Well, after watching two more hours of this story, an adoring look back at the man who served two terms as our 40th president, we can report that there is definitely one thing worse: An actor without a movie.

Let’s not blame the star, though. Quaid, who has played more than one president, has certainly got the charismatic grin, the pomaded hair and especially that distinctive, folksy voice down — close your eyes, and it sounds VERY familiar. If he were to appear on “Saturday Night Live” in the role, it would feel like a casting coup akin to Larry David as Bernie Sanders.

But this is not an “SNL” skit, despite the fact that Jon Voight appears throughout with a heavy Russian accent as a KGB spy, but we’ll get to that. This is a 135-minute film that demands a lot more depth. And, so, to co-opt a political phrase from Bill Clinton, whom Quaid also has played: It’s the script, stupid.

Lovingly directed by Sean McNamara with a screenplay by Howard Klausner, “Reagan” begins with a chilling event (and a parallel to a recent one): the assassination attempt on Reagan in Washington in March 1981, only two months after he became president.

There are those who say Reagan cemented his relationship with the public by surviving that attempt; he famously told wife Nancy from his bed: “Honey, I forgot to duck.” In any case, the filmmakers use the event to set up their story, and will return to it later on, chronologically.

But their early point is that Reagan came away from the scare with a divine plan. “My mother used to say that everything in life happens for a reason, even the most disheartening setbacks,” he says. And as he will tell Tip O’Neill, the House speaker, everything from then on will be part of that divine plan.

The yet broader point here is that Reagan, according to this film, was basically solely responsible for the eventual downfall of the Soviet Union, because he showed the people of the world what freedom meant. “I knew that he was the one,” says Viktor Petrovich, the retired spy played by Voight as a narrator figure throughout — meaning the one who would bring it all down. The script is based on Paul Kengor’s “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism,” and Kengor has said Viktor is based on a number of KGB agents and analysts who tracked Reagan for years.

That point is made early and often. The rest is a history reel, with lots of glorious, loving lighting around our star. We go back to his younger years, learning about his mother and what she taught him about faith, and then his Hollywood years as an actor, Screen Actors Guild president (and a Democrat) before fully committing to politics, and the GOP.

We also see a newly divorced Reagan meet a winsome Nancy Davis, who will become his second wife, loving partner and constant companion. Like Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller is a perfectly fine actor who has little nuance to work with here. Together, they embark on the path to political stardom, starting with the California governorship. When they arrive at a neighbor’s home to campaign, the housewife at the door hears Reagan’s “RR” initials and thinks he’s Roy Rogers.

But a decade and change later, Reagan is sworn in as president, beginning his eight years in office. “It became my obsession to understand what was beneath the facade,” says Voight’s Petrovich, explaining why Reagan was so consequential.

Maybe, then, he could let us know?

Because when this movie ends, with the president’s death in 2004 a decade after announcing he had Alzheimer’s disease, we don’t know a lot more than when we began about a figure so influential in American politics.

Sure, we get all the great hits. ”Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” we see him say in 1987 in Berlin, a scene with much buildup.

And it’s fun to see the famous debate lines, like “There you go again,” to Jimmy Carter in 1980, and of course his famously deft deflection of the age issue in 1984, with Walter Mondale. “I will not make age an issue of this campaign,” the 73-year-old president told his questioner. “I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

The line, which made Mondale himself laugh, got Reagan back on track in the race. The movie, not so much.

“History is never about when, why, how — it always comes down to ‘who,’” says Voight’s Petrovich. However historians feel about that, we would have gladly taken a more incisive look at when, why, how or anything else that would give us real insight, instead of an extended and glowing commercial, into who this man really was.

“Reagan,” a Showbiz Direct release, has been rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association “for violent content and smoking.” Running time: 135 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

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