Year: 1999
Runtime: 94 min
Language: English
Director: Andrew Fleming
Two teenagers, Betsy and Arlene, accidentally stumble into a complex political situation during a White House tour. Soon, they are appointed as dog walkers by President Nixon, a seemingly innocuous role that quickly places them at the center of the unfolding Watergate scandal. They find themselves navigating a dangerous game of deception and secrets as they unwittingly become involved in the investigation.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Dick yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Dick (1999), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Betsy Jobs (Kirsten Dunst) and Arlene Lorenzo (Michelle Williams) are two lovable yet somewhat scatterbrained teenage girls navigating life in Washington D.C. during the early 1970s. Betsy hails from a privileged family in the upscale Georgetown neighborhood, while Arlene resides with her widowed mother in an apartment situated in the infamous Watergate building.
One fateful evening, seeking to mail a letter to enter a contest for a date with teen heartthrob Bobby Sherman, the girls sneak out of Arlene’s home just as the Watergate break-in unfolds. They inadvertently manage to enter and exit through the parking garage after taping the latch of a door, leading to the discovery of the break-in. In their haste, they spot G. Gordon Liddy (played by Harry Shearer) and mistakenly believe he is engaged in a jewel heist, causing them to panic and flee. Their actions prompt a startled security guard to notify the police, leading to the swift arrest of the actual burglars.
The next day, during a school tour of the White House, the duo encounters Liddy once more. Though they remain unaware of who he is, he recognizes them and quickly grows suspicious. He points them out to H. R. Haldeman, who begins to interrogate them, uncovering their obliviousness to the President’s narratives. Their conversation is amusingly interrupted first by a call from Haldeman’s wife, then by President Nixon himself, portrayed by Dan Hedaya, who sidles off with Haldeman to express his frustrations about the corrupt bugging operation.
Amazed to be in Nixon’s presence, the girls are more enamored with his dog, which sparks an idea in the President’s mind. To ensure their silence regarding the events they’ve unwittingly witnessed, he appoints them as his official dog walkers, granting them access to the White House repeatedly. During their visits, Betsy and Arlene unknowingly influence significant political events—including the Vietnam peace negotiations and the Nixon-Brezhnev summit—by bringing along cookies that are infused with marijuana. Toward the film’s end, Betsy’s brother, Larry (Devon Gummersall), discovers the cookies’ “secret ingredient” and deduces that their consumption could explain Nixon’s spiraling paranoia.
Meanwhile, Arlene, who initially idolized Bobby Sherman, finds herself smitten with Nixon. After recording an 18½-minute message of adoration into a tape recorder, she inadvertently plays back a clip revealing his grim and crude language, leading her to a harsh reality check about his character. Confronting Nixon directly—> “You kicked Checkers, you’re prejudiced, and you have a potty mouth!”— they face his ire as he threatens and dismisses them: “You don’t mess with the big boys!”
Reevaluating their position, the girls decide to spill all to the “radical muckraking bastards” at the Washington Post, namely Bob Woodward (Will Ferrell) and Carl Bernstein (Bruce McCulloch). They inadvertently become the identities behind the notorious Deep Throat (a humorous twist given that Betsy’s brother had just been caught watching a film of the same name). However, Woodward and Bernstein are initially incredulous, portraying them as childish and incompetent. Matters are complicated when their sole piece of physical evidence, a list of names connected to the Committee to Re-Elect the President, gets eaten by Betsy’s dog.
As Nixon’s aides recognize the girls as a genuine threat, they resort to various tactics, including surveillance and infiltration, to glean what the girls know. The situation escalates to the point where they break into Betsy’s home and pose as Arlene’s mother’s boyfriend. Pushed to their limits after being pursued by the Watergate “plumbers,” the girls take matters into their own hands. They sneak into Haldeman’s residence and manage to steal a crucial tape recording, providing a transcription to Woodward and Bernstein while keeping the tape as a “souvenir.” This pivotal action ultimately leads to the downfall of Nixon’s political career. Following his resignation, as his helicopter hovers over Betsy’s house, the duo proudly displays a sign that reads, “You suck, Dick,” further infuriating the now-former president.
Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 22:27
Don't stop at just watching — explore Dick in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Dick is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Dick with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover movies like Dick that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Dick (1999) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Dick (1999) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Movies Like Dick – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003) Film Overview & Timeline
18½ (2022) Ending Explained & Film Insights
The Death of Dick Long (2019) Film Overview & Timeline
Pecker (1998) Full Movie Breakdown
Dicks: The Musical (2023) Detailed Story Recap
Good Dick (2008) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Don't Be a Dick About It (2019) Full Summary & Key Details
All the President's Men (1976) Story Summary & Characters
College (2008) Complete Plot Breakdown
A Fish Called Wanda (1988) Movie Recap & Themes
Dick Tracy (1990) Full Summary & Key Details
Wag the Dog (1997) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Bert and Arnie's Guide to Friendship (2013) Detailed Story Recap
Wiener-Dog (2016) Story Summary & Characters