Python Hyena American Dreamz (2006): Dir: Paul Weitz / Cast: Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Seth Meyers, Chris Klein: Fantastic satire that takes crack shots at American Idol, the American President and terrorist. It is also Paul Weitz's best film in a career that has spawned such worthy comic gems as In Good Company and American Pie. It is addressing the success and sensation regarding reality shows and the bullshit concealed. Hugh Grant is perfectly cast as the arrogant Martin Tweed who hosts American Dreamz. His performance is a send off to Simon Cowell of American Idol fame. Dennis Quaid plays a recently re-elected American President ousted onto American Dreamz as a guest judge. His performance is an obvious jab at George W. Bush. Mandy Moore plays off the phoniness of divas as her contending on American Dreamz is manipulated with what isn't happening behind the camera within her relationships. This is perhaps Moore at her best as she succeeds to the delight of the media that craves and buys into it all. Seth Meyers plays Omar, another contender sent by terrorist but who sincerely wishes to compete. Chris Klein plays Moore's moron veteran boyfriend who proves to be several sandwiches short of a picnic. Provocative comedy about pop culture and the reality that the dreams presented are merely costume to the lasting misery of it all. Score: 10 / 10

Chrysanthepop Against good advice I decided to watch 'American Dreamz'. The fact that Dennis Quaid is playing president and that Hugh Grant is in it should have been reason enough to avoid this. But the reality show spoof concept and the supposed satire angle got me interested. Moreover I had read Ben Elton's 'Chart Throb' (that came out the same year) which also revolves around the behind the scenes of a song contest reality show and it's one of the funniest books I have ever read. So 'American Dreamz' couldn't be that bad now can it? In all fairness, with the exception of the terrorist angle, it is quite funny in the beginning. It could have been more amusing but nonetheless I laughed a little. Then somewhere before the second half it heads downhill not standing any chance for recovery. The movie felt very rushed. The whole terrorist angle felt out of place and clichéd. There's also a boring preachy 'patriotic' sequence. Mandy Moore is adequate. Willem Dafoe, Judy Greer, John Cho, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Marcia Gay Harden are first rate (but every one of them have tiny roles). Hugh Grant is irritating as usual. Dennis Quaid is passable. And, 'American Dreamz' is forgettable.

CitizenCaine At the time this movie was made, American Idol voters already rivaled political election voters. Director Paul Weitz, who gave us American Pie, throws everything in including the kitchen sink in this movie: an inept president facing a crisis of confidence (who mirrors one George W. Bush intentionally or not), a Broadway music-loving terrorist trainee, and intellectually vapid young Americans doing what they do best: kissing themselves in front of mirrors, running to the mall, and self-indulging. There are some bright moments to be sure in this satire vs. farce, but several scenes are often uncomfortably close to reality, as in the self-absorbed bratty Mandy Moore character who resembled some of the female students I taught over the years. Hugh Grant is much better than usual as a Simon Cowell type host of an American Idol type show, revealing just how laughably phony that type of show really is. Willem Dafoe is funny as a Dick Cheney look-a-like, but Dennis Quaid is wasted as the befuddled president. The terrorist sub-plot doesn't really work that well either, but Chris Klein is funny as an idiot boyfriend manipulated by Mandy Moore to further her "career". **1/2 of 4 stars.

jtedesco63 You wrote an excellent review, as far as I'm concerned. It was from your point of view and that is what a review is all about, but William Dafoe played the Chief of Staff, not the Vice President. If he had played the role of the VP I would not have enjoyed the movie as much, because the real life President and VP NEVER spend that much time in close proximity, due to security reasons and for logistical purposes. However, I agree whole heartedly that Dafoe played the Dick Chenney role, regardless of what character he portrayed in the movie. I think Weitz did an admirable job with this movie even though I disagree with part of his premise. I believe it is nearly impossible for anyone to know what the President or members of Alqueada think or do in their own space. Then again, I guess, maybe I shouldn't take these satires so seriously huh?