The Hyde Park referred to in the title for the film "Hyde Park on Hudson" is not that far away, Hartford. In fact, instead of spending two hours viewing the movie, perhaps take the short trip to Hyde Park, NY and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum instead. This is because "Hyde Park on Hudson" demonstrates everything that can go wrong with an historical drama. It is boring, has basically no plot, and all of the characters, except the King of England, George VI (a lovable Samuel West), are unlikable.
"Hyde Park on Hudson" is about the love affair between FDR (Bill Murray) and his distant cousin Daisy (Laura Linney) set during a visit by the King and Queen of England to Hyde Park. The movie is framed around the point of view of Daisy who comes off a simpering fool who is content to trail after FDR and whatever scraps of affection he sends her way. The major drama in the film is that King and Queen have been sent to upstate New York to gain American support for the coming World War.
A major problem that an historical film can have is that the audience knows how everything will turn out in the end. A good historical film will make viewers care anyway. Unfortunately, there is no real conflict between the Americans and the Brits - it is clear early on that at least FDR and George "Bertie" VI are fond of each other - and because of this there is little reason to care about how it all ends up.
Skip this film, Hartford or for an example of how a presidential film can be done right, see Lincoln. It is playing at Bow Tie Cinemas.
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