Note: This article was originally published in Technician on March 17, 2006.
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'American Dreamz' more dream than reality
Just when you thought Hollywood had run out of originality, behold: a film involving a Broadway-obsessed terrorist who randomly bursts into song. Now there's something you don't see every day. But it's a key element of Universal's American Dreamz, which takes a satirical look at American politics and culture and isn't your typical comedy.
The plot is indeed as dream-like as they come -- the recently re-elected President (Dennis Quaid) wakes up one morning and decides to read the newspaper, only to discover that he's completely out of touch with what's happening in the world. So he holes up for a few weeks reading every newspaper and book he can get his hands on and then becomes a guest host on the reality show American Dreamz to boost his approval ratings. Hosted by Martin Tweed (Hugh Grant), the show has a variety of individuals, each competing to be the country's hottest new star. Among the favored to win are Sally (Mandy Moore), a crafty blonde bombshell who will do anything to win, and Omer, an Arab straight out of terrorist school assigned to assassinate the president during the show's finale. Need I say more?