Bonzo

Thanks to this list of "things you might not know about Barack Obama," I learned that the President-elect not only collects comic books, but also that he once had a pet ape. Her name was Tata, and was his childhood pet in Indonesia. I think that this sounds like the premise for an awesomely terrible '80's comedy about the President and his ape.

The movie starts during the first week of a new President's term (probably played by an old white guy who looks like Reagan, because this is the '80's). Everyone is still settling in at the White House, when a large, mysterious package arrives! The bomb squad and the Secret Service play Keystone Kops for a while before they figure it out--It's not a bomb! It's the president's childhood pet and companion, Tata the ape!

Of course, the ape becomes the White House pet, instead of the more traditional dog or cat. At one point, a comically square foreign official, probably from England, is staying over in the Lincoln Bedroom. Tata steals his pants and wears them down the hall, forcing the official to chase after her. He ends up in a meeting full of Important People wearing his silly patterned boxers. Later, Tata gives him a hug, so its all OK.

For about 30 seconds, an actual politician makes a cameo appearance, and shakes the ape's hand. In the real world, he fires his PR guys.

And you have the requisite villain--probably a mean, over-serious staffer, who thinks Tata should go. But of course the President and the children of the nation love Tata, so she stays.

Zany hijinks, tiresome banana jokes, and an ape giving the finger ensue. In the end, the ape saves the day in some bizarre, convoluted fashion that wouldn't even make sense if you went back and watched it again.

It's a straight to home video classic!