Hyde Park on Hudson

One of the main goals of Hyde Park on Hudson is to provide a glimpse into the private life of a very public figure.

The public figure is Franklin Roosevelt, and the private life was the summer of 1939, which he spent mostly at his summer home in upstate New York.

However, considering the context of that period around the world, both politically and socially, this slight — indeed, almost anecdotal — tale marks a missed opportunity that might as well be titled My Week with Franklin.

That’s because the story is told from the perspective of Daisy (Laura Linney), a distant cousin of FDR who became one of his closest confidants, as well as a frequent visitor to Hyde Park.

The focus in particular is a weekend during which Roosevelt (Bill Murray) hosts a visit by King George (Samuel West) and Queen Elizabeth (Olivia Colman), marking the first trip by a reigning British monarch to the United States. FDR and the king forge a personal friendship — including Roosevelt’s sympathetic view toward George’s notorious stuttering — that leads to a political alliance with the world on the brink of war.

The film’s mediocre quality unfortunately squanders a sharp performance by Murray, who captures FDR’s accent and mannerisms without resorting to mere mimicry.

Hyde Park on Hudson has some insightful and intimate details about FDR’s life away from the White House, from his affinity for hot dogs and stamp collecting to his custom-made vehicle that allows him to drive without the traditional use of his legs.

It shines a spotlight on the president’s somewhat frosty marriage to his outspoken wife, Eleanor (Olivia Williams), and his peculiar living arrangement that includes having a large contingent of female caretakers. He’s shown here as a man with charisma and magnetism, but who remains emotionally vulnerable behind the scenes.

Veteran director Roger Michell (Notting Hill), working from a screenplay by Richard Nelson (Ethan Frome), delivers a visually striking film that captures the period and provides a few amusing comic touches.

Perhaps the film’s point is that even great presidents aren’t immune to personal demons, but in focusing on tabloid fodder, it neglects the historical significance of its subject matter.

Rated R, 94 minutes.