Last evening I had opportunity to view the hilariously funny political satire by the name of American Dreamz on HBO. Filmmaker Paul Weitz is not new to directing comedy, as he also directed the movies About a Boy, In Good Company, and American Pie. I suggest that everyone -- regardless of political affiliation -- who is interested in a little fun and games watch this movie that pokes fun at Washington and the leaders of our country. Curious? You can purchase the DVD right here for a scant $10.99.

The goofy cast of characters was a perfect fit for the lines, and added to its overall humor. The star spangled cast was led by Dennis Quaid, who played President Staton, and his lovely wife Linda, played by Marcia Gay Hardin. They were an exact match for the Bush Clan now seated in the White House, right down to the accent, lack of public speaking ability, and cowboy boots. President Staton’s slipping ratings cause him to seek the comfort and luxury of his White House suite that begins his fear of public appearances, obsession with the television show American Dreamz, and compulsion with reading and collecting newspapers. My personal comment for that particular compulsive behavior is to suggest that the newspapers be replaced with comic books, or something more fitting for the character portrayed.

Linda, the presidents wife, and the chief of staff played by William Dafoe, work hard to pull the president out of this latest tailspin. With the president still pajama-clad, William even begs the question of his possible return to drinking as a potential reason for this questionable behavior, to which the president says "Not." Next, Linda tries in earnest to get her President out of his doldrums by offering him “happy pills” that she says “make you happy when you are sad”. They both partake with mixed results.

The American Dreamz show host (played by Hugh Grant) is bored with his pick of potential stars, and endeavors to select some people with more star appeal, and personal interest to him. Specifically he seeks out an Arab and a Jewish candidate to really jump start his ratings, and propel his career to unprecedented heights. Little does he know that this search will lead him to an equally vain and perfect foil in candidate Sally Kendoo, played by the cute and vivacious Mandy Moore.

Sally is as starstruck and as selfish as Martin. She plans to do anything to get what she wants. The one hitch is that Sally’s manager believes that she can win this contest if she plays her cards right and uses her ex-boyfriend and lovesick sap (played by Chris Klein) to improve her humanscape edge. Her agent stages many scenarios that help to shape how she is received on the show. The test will be who truly wins her heart, or if she can clinch the contest.

A young gay Iraqi born American man hopes to ascend to American Dreamz roster of contests. His family is wealthy and affords him a life of luxury, supplemented by shopping at the mall with his harpy sister. He creates his own home stage to rehearse his acts, in the hopes of being selected. However, in a comedic sleight of hand his cousin Omar, who is visiting, slips in his personal stage and is discovered by the scouts for Martin’s show. Feeling like the air was sucked out of him, his cousin resigns himself to the task of choreographer and costume design. The cousin’s specific task is to Omarize the television-land voters--to vote for him. Unbeknownst to the cousin or anyone else, Omar has been recruited by Al Qaeda, whom have very specific plans for the end of the show.

By mid-movie William Dafoe negotiates the president a spot on his favorite television show American Dreamz, as a celebrity judge along with show host Martin Tweed, played by the ever funny Hugh Grant. Martin is your typical self loving, self aggrandizing, other loathing, obsessively spoiled star with little to no tolerance for anything outside of self, which he honestly believes makes him quite happy. Despite his shortfalls as a human being, he has managed to create a very well received show and perfect platform for his shallow talents.   

When the thirty or more contestants come down to the final three, Sally the Iraqi, and his Jewish counterpart, feel it is time for the president to speak a few words of encouragement to the star hopefuls on the stage. This moment has been carefully planned down to the earpiece, which allows the president to parrot his speechwriter. However, after a few minutes of watching the show, the earpiece begins to provide too much feedback and the president whacks it out of his ear, leaving his speech -- for the most part -- a tragic impromptu, and not at all what his advisors hoped for.

Omar, who was first selected, was supposed to blow up the president along with himself on stage. In the final minutes of the show, he decides that he likes America and disses the bomb in the men's room, only to have the despondent and nearly suicidal boyfriend of Sally, who has seen her through the keyhole in her dressing room having a sexual entendre with Martin Tweed, wear the bomb out in front of the camera. While the boyfriend agonizes over the acts he witnessed between Martin and Sally, he finally opens his shirt to expose the hidden bomb. The audience rushes out of the studio as Martin catches it all on film.  Unfortunately, he moves too close to the camera and sets off the bomb which ultimately blows himself and Martin to smithereens.

But don’t worry, as all ends well. Sally takes over as host for the new American Dreamz show. Omar goes on to superstardom with his cousin at his side. The Al Qaeda group ends up in jail watching each segment of American Dreamz with bated breath. President Staton finally gets out of his funk and depression.