Man with a Plan

John O'Brien's mock documentary relates the fictional story of Fred Tuttle (played by the real Fred Tuttle, a 79-year-old retired Vermont dairy farmer) who runs for Congress because he "needs the money" and wins by one vote. In a case of life imitating art, this year Fred beat out millionaire, Harvard-educated businessman Jack McCullen (a "flatlander" or outsider in Vermont parlance) in the GOP primary and is now facing Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy in the fall election--who's probably more than delighted at his unexpected opponent. It's hard not to like Fred--he's a sweet, sly old goat with a sense of humor--and even harder not to like one of his campaign slogans, "Spread Fred" (especially when it's pasted on to the back of a manure spreader), but Fred is spread too thin in this documentary. At about 90 minutes, the video is at least 30 minutes too long; a glacier could outsprint the pace. But, in a year of heavy political panting over Bill and Monica, Fred is a breath of fresh Vermont air; he's a man who means exactly what he says. For that alone, he deserves to be elected. Who knows, maybe in November, Fred will be able to yodel "Leahy who?" Recommended. Aud: P. (S. Fisher)