Excellent, a Must See

Am I Missing Something?

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Hugh Grant plays a version of Simon Cowell on a reality TV show. Yes, that is the main joke behind this poor film, that oddly some people claim is Grant's best work.It's really not. Much like the Robin Williams film 'Man of the year' this is an attempt at satire that is also trying to be popular. It fails again badly here.It feels like a cheaply made sitcom, only with a big name cast, who gamely try to wring as much humour out of a poor script as they possible can.Grant plays bumbling well, he plays the fool well, but playing a jerk is a little beyond him. And this film sums that up. For a man who claims he picks his roles carefully it is baffling that he signed up to this film. Maybe out of loyalty as the director also did 'About A Boy'. Who knows.It's a comedy the DVD box proudly tells me. Well, if it is then that might be the best joke.

Really badly paced, with a weak script. Lots of hate-filled messages and non-stop unfunny stereotypes that a teenager would dream up. Big-time hate going on for George Bush, which radically dates the movie. Too bad because there is some decent talent here who could have made it funny if only the producers were so focused on mocking American Idol, and perhaps more specifically - its audience. Which... is exactly who would have bought tickets to this film if only it were a loving poke at Idol, instead of a mean-spirited disdain. And for the record, I don't watch the show or care about it. The only reason I am not giving it a 1 is because the cast didn't write this piece of S.

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.

I'm sorry to tell everyone this, but i believe this film is terrible. I know what some of you may be thinking, the film has a good cast, a cheesy light-hearted look and looks harmless enough.The creators and advertisers tried to portray this film along the same lines as teenage dreams, American idol, Simon Cowell, search for stardom etc...Unfortunately, it's not anything of the sort. It deals with Terrorism, race, politics everything that the key demographic doesn't really relate to. It also deals with the issues in a terrible way and comes across as patronising and insulting.It's boring, far too sporadic, pointless and when it finishes you HONESTLY feel like you've just wasted an hour and a half of your life.I'm warning you in advance.