"American Dreamz" Movie:***/5 Disc: ***/5
This heavy-handed but often hilarious spoof takes a scatter-shot approach at a series of inviting targets. Paul Weitz’("About a Boy") absurd satire insults the president, the vice president, "American Idol," Simon Cowell, terrorists, the war on terror, immigrants, soldiers, veterans, gays, and, not least, show tunes. Weitz so gleefully pops off, "Dreamz" is left mostly with caricatures, who may be hard to like but not from laughing at. Hugh Grant plays Simon Cowell/Simon Fuller-clone Martin Tweed, producer and star of the country’s top TV show, "American Dreamz." Mandy Moore shows some acting chops in her vicious role as Sally Kendoo, a Ohio teen who appears on "Dreamz." Chris Klein is the love-struck homeboy who enlists in the army when Sally’s career takes off. Drawn into this sticky situation are two Texans in the White House, played by Texans Dennis Quaid and Marcia Gay Harden. Weitz broadly draws an uninformed president, easily manipulated by others, mostly by the vice president (played by uncanny Dick Cheney-lookalike Willem Dafoe). The film’s most likable character is mid-east terrorist Omer (Sam Golzari). He arrives in the U.S. as part of a sleeper cell only to end up on a "Dreamz" program that leads up to the big show in which the president will serve as one of the judges. With an abundance of clever one-liners, Weitz spreads his comedy around, making fools of everyone. Not for the easily offended or for those who can still take their icons seriously.
Rated PG-13, 108 minutes. The DVD offers commentary from Weitz and funnyman Golzari. Plus: 12 minutes or so of deleted scenes. In the four minute featurette "Center Stage: Sally Kendoo," Mandy Moore takes the viewer on the "American Dreamz" stage, showing how Sally wins over the audience. In the seven minute "Dance Dreams" sequence, choreographer Jennifer Lee relates her experiences in teaching some steps to Sam Golzari and other cast members.