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American Dreamz (2006) DVD Review
American Dreamz (2006) DVD Credits:
American Dreamz (2006) Directed by:
Paul Weitz
American Dreamz (2006) Written by:
Paul Weitz
American Dreamz (2006) Cast:
Willem Dafoe, Hugh Grant, Marcia Gay Harden, Mandy Moore, Dennis Quaid
American Dreamz (2006) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
American Dreamz (2006) DVD Release Date:
16th October 2006
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

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American Dreamz (2006) Synopsis:

Filmmaker Paul Weitz-whose comic explorations have ventured into the synergistic halls of corporate culture ("In Good Company"), the perils of psychological isolationism ("About a Boy") and the vicissitudes of losing one's virginity ("American Pie")-now delivers a comedy yanked from right-now popular culture...where the nation's shrinking attention span is more focused on "what's hot" than on hot-button headlines: American Dreams. On the morning of his re-election, the President (Quaid) decides to read the newspaper for the first time in four years. This starts him down a slippery slope. He begins reading obsessively, reexamining his black and white view of the world, holing up in his bedroom in his pajamas. Frightened by the President's apparent nervous breakdown, his Chief of Staff (Dafoe) pushes him back into the spotlight, booking him as a guest judge on the television ratings juggernaut (and the President's personal fave), the weekly talent show American Dreamz. America can't seem to get enough of American Dreamz, hosted by self-aggrandizing, self-loathing Martin Tweed (Grant), ever on the lookout for the next insta-celebrity. His latest crop of hopefuls includes Sally (Moore), a conniving steel magnolia with a devoted, dopey veteran boyfriend (Klein), and Omer, a recent Southern Californian immigrant (who just happens to be a bumbling, show tune singing, would-be terrorist awaiting activation). When both Sally and Omer make it to the final round of Dreamz-where the President will be judging along with Tweed-the stage is set for a show the nation will never forget.

American Dreamz (2006) DVD Review:

Everyone involved with American Dreamz seems ready to satirize something. The politic in the film are a direct comment on our president when Dennis Quaid decides to read a newspaper for the first time after he is reelected and discovers all sorts of things he didn’t know in his ignorance. Willem Dafoe even wears an elaborate getup so that he can look the part of the President’s older and wiser advisor who shepherds him from press conference to other public appearances, so that he is seen in a better light in the media. This is countered by the obviously manipulated world of reality television. Television has reached a level in America where anybody can be on television if they are willing to make a fool of themselves.

When Sally (Mandy Moore) is chosen to be on American Dreamz, a popular reality television show hosted by a shallow Hugh Grant which is obviously mirroring American Idol, she gets an agent to represent her and help her have the image to win. We don’t even hear her voice until after we have seen her prepare her image. Sally even breaks up with her likable local boyfriend William Williams (Chris Klein) because she plans on becoming a star and leaving the ordinary behind. He is so distraught that he joins the army, is sent to Iraq and is hit by a stray bullet only to return a few weeks later. The veteran angle is perfect for Sally’s image, so she takes him back again as a pawn to help her win.

At the same time that Sally is preparing for a win by having the best backstory, the President’s new reading hobby has gotten him thinking for himself for the first time in his administration, which is proving bad for press. In a desperate attempt to get him back on good terms with the public he is set-up as a guest judge on the extremely popular reality show. When a terrorist cell member living in Orange County gets the chance to be on the show as well, there is a desperate battle for him to last until the final episode when America’s leader will be exposed for attack.

Hugh Grant is something of a mix between Ryan and Simon with his angry British accent and self absorbed reliance on celebrity, but many actors in this film seem to be playing caricatures of real people. Moore’s Sally is certainly a comment on the ruthless climb to celebrity which she must have experienced first hand many times, and Quaid’s President who is the son of a former President is made as stupid as possible so that we all are aware who it is supposed to be. Sometimes these associations seem much more important and humorous to the filmmakers and actors than it is to the audience, which can just make the obvious insinuations seem trite.

The DVD contains a commentary track with director Paul Weitz and actor Sam Golzari. There is also some extra footage including a deleted scenes and a mock-featurette in which Mandy Moore as Sally Kendoo does the usual behind the scenes interviews that are often seen on American Idol. There is also a featurette about the choreography in the film.

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American Dreamz (2006) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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