American Dreamz
American Dreamz ★★ 2006 (PG-13)
Weitz's obvious satire has self-loathing, smarmy Brit Martin Tweed (Grant) hosting the universally popular reality show of the title. This latest version will be highlighted by the appearance of dim-witted, affable American President Staton (Quaid) as a guest judge. He has the time because the country is actually being run by his power-hungry chief of staff (Dafoe). Vying for celebrity status are small-town blonde Sally Kendoo (Moore), who hides her unholy ambitions behind a girl-next-door smile, and Omer (Golzari), a showtune-loving Iraqi who has been chosen as a suicide bomber. Grant and Moore fare best as conniving players who recognize and respect the dark streak in each other. 107m/C DVD . US Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe, Chris Klein, Jennifer Coolidge, Marcia Gay Harden, John Cho, Sam Golzari, Seth Meyers, Judy Greer, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Bernie (Bernard) White, Tony Yalda, Marley Shelton, Lawrence Pressman, Noureen DeWulf; D: Paul Weitz; W: Paul Weitz; C: Robert Elswit; M: Stephen Trask.