Jack Noah (Richard Dreyfuss) is all actor: Self-possessed, obsessive, vulnerable, and an addict for praise, his soul burns with the craft. Having just finished a grade-Z straight-to-cable crime thriller in the fictional South American country of Parador, he gets the ultimate acting challenge (though its more like an offer he cant refuse) from Roberto Strausman (Raul Julia), the Paradorian dictators chief advisor. The challenge: impersonate the countrys dictator, whose just died. Strausman knows just how to manipulate Noah: He takes him to a meat locker, shows him the directors body (actually Dreyfuss brother, Lorin), threatens to kill him, and he brings clips of Noahs best reviews. Thus enticed, and bearing a striking resemblance to the man, Noah accepts the job. Under the exacting direction of Strausman, he follows the script precisely. Noah immediately enjoys the jobs perks, not least of which is the dictators scorching mistress, Madonna (Sonia Braga), but of course cannot conceal his real identity to her. A close call with Paradors revolutionaries and Madonnas brimming social conscience push Noah to take command of the role. He starts pushing a kinder, gentler social agenda, and incurs Strausmans wrath. It begins to look like Noah will play the dictators last act, but a chance meeting with a stunt man friend (Michael Greene) inspires a caper that will change all of the characters fates. ~ Nick Sambides, Jr., All Movie Guide