“American Dreamz” is One You’ll Want to Remember

If you have not seen this movie yet it is only because of bad advertising.

This is one of the funniest movies this reporter has ever seen. It is a political satire about our country where “American Dreamz,” an American Idol type singing competition show, is the highest rated show in the world.

The movie follows the story of four people and their connection to the hit TV show. Martin Tweed (Hugh Grant) is the host, mastermind of the show and a Simon Cowell-like judge who makes some contestants cry. He chooses two contestants: an all American girl, Sally Kendoo (Mandy Moore), and an Arab, Omer (Sam Golzari), who has a secret mission to avenge the death of his mother from an American bomb. Intertwined into their stories, President Stanton (Dennis Quaid), a lovable buffoon, has just been re elected to a second term. While resting up after the long, hard campaign, Stanton picks up the newspaper and realizes there are a lot of issues out there he should know about but doesn’t. For three weeks the president reads newspapers and books while the press sits and wonders about his absence. His chief of staff (Willem Dafoe) tries to get him out and in public to boost his publicity. The chief of staff puts an earpiece in the president’s ear and talks into his sleeve, telling Stanton what to say. The president is set to guest judge on American Dreamz, and the way they all come together is hilarious, if a little confusing in the end.

I cannot praise this movie enough. It was so funny. Some of the funnier scenes were with the president and his chief of staff. Stanton is a lovable Texan who just happens not to know what happens in world diplomacy. He is someone you would want attending your barbecue, but not running your country.

Tweed also had some great moments with his eccentricities and quirks. His dealings with all the characters, especially Sally, are the epitome of Hollywood and famous people. He is arrogant and pampered and when people don’t like him they say they do anyway. When he meets Sally, who won’t suck up to him, he finds that intriguing. The total irony and political satire are great for today’s society where “more people vote for a pop idol than their next president.” The TV ads and trailers usually show the best jokes and you have seen the whole movie by the time the trailer is over. But for this film, the best part is still in theaters. This is one movie nobody in America will want to miss. Starring Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe and Sam Golzari, this movie is rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some sexual references. Directed and written by Paul Weitz, I give this movie 5 out of 5 starz.