CS Weekly Archive > Weekend Read > 04/21/06

What Dreamz May Come

By danny munso

Writer/director Paul Weitz crafts a timely political satire where the only message being sent is, if you don't think this is funny, there may be something wrong with you.

American Dreamz

Paul Weitz (also directed)

American Dreamz, the popular television singing contest, is back for an all-new season and the country is again captivated. Host Martin Tweed (Hugh Grant) is the most recognizable man in America and leads the way as the competition narrows down to a Midwestern minx (Mandy Moore) and a Broadway-loving Arab immigrant (Sam Golzari) who may or may not be a terrorist. Even the White House is hooked as the administration decides newly reelected President Staton (Dennis Quaid) could use some good PR and books him as a guest judge.

To call American Dreamz a satire is probably an understatement. Writer/director Paul Weitz makes little effort to separate his "fictional" world from our current one: the President is a slow Texan, the television show's judge is British, and the Vice President (played by Willem Dafoe) is literally Dick Cheney, just with a different name. Set in present day, against the backdrop of the Iraq war, the film's aim is not to preach; rather its only apparent goal is to coax as much humor out of these cloudy days as possible. The comedy is not always tasteful -- a suicide bomber's trigger is clearly labeled "press here to blow yourself up" -- but it's at least smart and doesn't talk down to its viewers with toilet humor or cheap laughs. In an age of heavy-handed filmmakers trying to force a lesson about the current state of affairs on their audiences, it's refreshing that Weitz simply wants to sit among them, help them gain a little perspective, and say that the world isn't actually coming to an end -- it's just being taken over by American Idol.

The script, however, does not always fire on all cylinders, as Weitz too often tries to force some emotion out of the ridiculous premise he's concocted. Sometimes it's touching, as when we're treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the President confiding to his wife that he doesn't like being controlled by his administration. But usually, it's too much out of left field, particularly the romance between Tweed and Moore's Sally. Unfortunately, Weitz did such a good job painting the two characters as artificial opportunists that we find it hard to buy any feelings they may be emoting as sincere. The film works best when no one's trying to feel anything and we're free laugh, completely guilt free.

The most interesting and enduring aspect of Dreamz may be its writer/director himself. While his comedic voice has never been sharper or wiser, it seems Weitz may have outgrown his own imagination. As a straight comedy, the movie delivers, but as a complete film, Weitz falls short of the bar he himself set with his last two films, About a Boy (co-directed with brother Chris) and In Good Company. Both of those movies proved that family drama can coexist peacefully with smart comedy, and that Cameron Crowe may not be the only guy in town capable of living up to Billy Wilder's legend. As great as American Dreamz can be, Paul Weitz has something greater up his sleeve, and that's something audiences can look forward to.

American Dreamz is most definitely a product of our times, so much so that it's hard to imagine the next generation of filmgoers getting much use out of it except possibly a few laughs at the expense of Dafoe's make-up artist. That being said, for those of us who are unfortunate enough to live in a day and age where more people care about anointing a new pop star than vote in an election, Dreamz is a riot, and gives us the opportunity to step back from the insanity of our current world, point a finger at ourselves, and laugh until it hurts.

American Dreamz

Universal Pictures
Rated PG-13; 115 min.

Buy tickets now

Buy the poster

Danny Munso graduated from film school in 2004 and can currently be found on his computer working on one of his many half-written screenplays. Or, more likely, he's on the Internet checking the scores of his beloved Bay Area sports teams.

American Dreamz courtesy Universal Pictures

From the Trenches
Working screenwriters discuss in their own words a particular aspect of screenwriting, from the mechanics of writing to the personal and professional impact that writing has had on their lives. > VIEW ARCHIVE

The Art of Craft
Screenwriting experts discuss how to approach various aspects of writing and the writing life. A mini-seminar each week from the people who write the books and teach the classes. > VIEW ARCHIVE

The Big Picture

Features that cover all aspects of screenwriting, from our "Seven Best" lists to analysis of old favorites and new classics. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Expert Witness
A panel of experts assembled to provide the facts about the screenwriting business. Readers will be able have their questions answered by an agent, producer, entertainment attorney, and WGA representative—and without paying that 10% commission. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Son of a Pitch
A weekly tutorial on how to write a script. Each week deals with a different element of creating a script, with the ultimate goal to provide a step-by-step instruction manual for new writers. The guide for this is a writer just diving into screenwriting himself, who asks the pros questions any new screenwriter would have about this brave new world. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Weekend Read
Film, book, web site and technology reviews from a writer’s perspective. How can these items help a writer on his or her journey, or make that journey more enjoyable? > VIEW ARCHIVE

DVD Review of the Day
DVD reviews from a writer’s point of view. What aspects of this script and features of this DVD illuminate the writing, development, and storytelling process? > VIEW ARCHIVE