On the morning of his re-election, President Staton (Dennis Quaid) decides to read the newspaper for the first time in four years. This starts him down a slippery slope. He begins reading obsessively, re-examining his black and white view of the world, holing up in his bedroom in his pyjamas. Frightened by the President's apparent nervous breakdown, his Chief of Staff (Willem Dafoe) pushes him back into the spotlight, booking him as a guest judge on the television ratings juggernaut (and the President's personal fave), the weekly talent show American Dreamz.
America can't seem to get enough of American Dreamz, hosted by self-aggrandizing, self-loathing Martin Tweed (Hugh Grant), ever on the look-out for the next insta-celebrity. His latest crop of hopefuls includes Sally Kendoo (Mandy Moore), a conniving steel magnolia with a devoted, dopey veteran boyfriend William Williams (Chris Klein), and Omer (Sam Golzari), a recent Southern Californian immigrant (who just happens to be a bumbling, show-tune-singing, would-be terrorist awaiting activation). When both Sally and Omer make it to the final round of Dreamz - where the President will be judging along with Tweed - the stage is set for a show the nation will never forget.
Special Agent Matti
*
M (Infrequent coarse language, sexual references)
107 minutes (1:47 hours)
Film: 27 April 2006
