Oliver Stone’s new biopic on President George W. Bush has been criticized by the left for painting him as too sympathetic, and by the right for making him look like an idiot. But put the politics aside for a few hours. True, it is being released at a very pertinent time, just a hair over two weeks before the Presidential election. Still, W. is not FoxNews, it’s a movie, -- and an unmissable one at that. Indeed, this film is likely to do for Dubya double Josh Brolin what The Queen did for Helen Mirren: make him an Oscar contender, if not a winner. And perhaps chalk another one up for Dick Cheney player Richard Dreyfuss. The film was perfectly cast.

In non-chronological order, W. tells of Junior Bush’s rise, from his brain cell-killing frat house days to his leap into the Texas governor’s seat with no political background (a move instigated by Karl Rove’s comment, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you haven’t done jack sh*t”) to his largest fumble as a president who declares war on Iraq prodded by a war-mongering cabinet -- only to eventually discover that there was no evidence weapons of mass destruction.

As deep as all that sounds, make no mistake: W. is fun – and funny. Thandie Newton’s over-the-top caricature portrayal of Condeleeza Rice is a hoot, and Stone will have you laughing at Bush’s rhetorical question, “Do you think I’m dumb?” and much more.

When it’s over, perhaps you’ll emerge thinking what CGG did: Bushie (as his pals called him) is just a man with some major dad issues. But a born leader? Oliver Stone seems to think not, but as always, history will be the true judge.