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American Dreamz
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some sexual references
Hugh Grant as the Simon Cowell-like host Martin Tweed of "American Dreamz," Dennis Quaid as a dim but warm-hearted and good-intentioned president of the United States, Mandy Moore as the manipulative contestant Sally Kendoo and Sam Golzari as a reluctant, Broadway-tune loving terrorist share the final over-the-top comic scenes that manage to pull together the best ideas from a film that ultimately misses its mark.
There's a lot of potential material in the premise. Tweed hopes to reinvigorate the show by sending his minions out to find ever-more-unusual contestants. He wants an Arab, which is where Omer (Golzari) comes in. Omer gets kicked out of a terrorist training camp and sent to California to live with his Americanized relatives, who have no idea what he might be up to.
The terrorist leaders tell him he'll stay there until he receives orders. But they don't intend to use this song-and-dance guy for any missions until he winds up a contestant on "American Dreamz," mistaken for his gay cousin Iqbal, who has been wishing for a shot at stardom. When the terrorists find out the president is set to be a guest judge, they see an opportunity.
In the meantime, the smarmy Tweed senses a soul-mate in the conniving Sally and encourages her -- along with her new agent -- to pretend to still love her injured war veteran boyfriend, whom she cast aside upon learning she would be on "American Dreamz." It'll help her "story" and help her win the contest.
The president has been recently re-elected but he's turned into a hermit, despondent because he's starting to believe that he might not be smart enough for his role. He's forced back into the limelight by his chief of staff (Willem Dafoe in costume and makeup that has him resembling a more svelte Dick Cheney), who negotiates a deal with Tweed.
With not-so-subtle allusions to the real president and portayals of terrorists as comic foils, the skewering has to be perfectly balanced to work. And it's not quite there, despite several entertaining performances.
That's not to say that this wasn't worth doing. It's a venture into terroritory not usually traveled by multiplex comedies and one not easily traveled, as well.
