Director: Paul Weitz
Starring: Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris Klein, Jennifer Coolidge, Seth Meyers, John Cho, Judy Greer, Sam Golzari, Willem Dafoe
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
On the morning of his re-election, President Joe Staton (Dennis Quaid) decides to read
the newspaper for the first time in four years, starting him down a slippery slope in the
eyes of both his doting First Lady (Marcia Gay Harden) and his manipulative Chief of Staff
(Willem Dafoe). Holed up in pyjamas in his bedroom, the President begins obsessively reading
and re-examining his formerly black-and-white view of the world, shocked at what he is
discovering. Frightened by his boss' apparent nervous breakdown - and plummeting approval
rating - the Chief pushes him back into the spotlight by booking him as a guest judge on a
weekly talent TV show “American Dreamz.”
American Dreamz” is hosted by self-aggrandizing, self-loathing Martin Tweed (Hugh Grant),
ever on the lookout for the next insta-celebrity. Tired of the same boring guests season
after season, Tweed decides to up this year's ante by recruiting a crop of bizarre hopefuls
that includes Sally (Mandy Moore), a conniving steel magnolia with a devoted, dopey veteran
boyfriend (Chris Klein) and fame-obsessed momager Martha (Jennifer Coolidge); Omer
(Sam Golzari), a recent immigrant and bumbling, show-tune singing / would-be terrorist
awaiting activation; and Sholem (Adam Busch), an Orthodox cantor whose goofy raps were
tailor-made for unscripted television.
This comedy by the director of American Pie prefers farce to political satire and broad comedy to incisive social commentary. . .
Review by : James O'Ehley
***
Romantic Comedy
