Johnston - Mars Attacks!

In his film, Mars Attacks!, Tim Burton includes many stereotypical ideas about the American government. For example, in one of the beginning scenes the president, played by Jack Nicholson, is told about the possibility of an alien invasion. Instead of even remotely thinking about the situation presented to him, he instead turns as asks his press secretary what he thinks about the situation. This action portrays the stereotypical idea that the most important concern for the president is not the possibility of his people being in danger, but instead how this danger will affect his image as a leader. It also portrays the idea that the president is simply a figurehead or a puppet that cannot form his own opinions and simply does what others tell him to do.
Another stereotype of the government that is seen in the film is the scene where the aliens are attacking the White House. The president and his family are running around the White House trying to find a place safe from the aliens, and instead of going the fastest way, they take a roundabout way to the safe place simply because there is a tour in their path. Even with the eminent danger of the alien invasion just minutes away, the tour group is still unaware of the danger that they are in, and the tour progresses as it would normally. This portrays the stereotypical idea that the government does not tell the people everything, even if they are in danger.
Burton also pokes fun at the American government in the scenes where the boy and his grandmother are riding around playing “Indian Love Song,” which is killing all the aliens. We see a tank-like vehicle with American soldiers walking next to it acting like they are there to help, but really all the soldiers are doing is poking at already dead aliens. This scene is commenting on the fact that the government cannot actually accomplish anything without the help of the people.
Burton not only satirizes the idea of the stereotypical American government, but also the idea of the educational elite. Professor Donald Kessler is a tweed-wearing, pipe-smoking, pompous professor who believes that simply because he has his Ph.D that he is all-knowing. We see that he is, in fact, just as ignorant and naïve as all the others when he assumes that just because the aliens are advanced life-forms that they are peaceful creatures. What he does not care to take into consideration is that humans are considered to be advanced life-forms, but yet there is constant violence and warfare on our planet.