By Sandra Varner

American Dreamz has a familiar ring as an outrageous comedy about a TV reality show looking for the next instant celebrity, coupled with another familiar reality, an unpopular American president.
    In a desperate effort to push the president back into the spotlight, the chief of staff schedules him to be a guest judge on a weekly talent show. Filmmaker Paul Weitz – whose comic explorations have ventured into the halls of corporate culture (In Good Company), the perils of psychological isolationism (About a Boy) and the vicissitudes of losing one’s virginity (American Pie) – delivers American Dreamz, to be released by Universal Pictures on April 21.
   “Part of the inspiration for the film was my fascination with pop culture and ‘American Idol’ – the juxtaposition of being interested and obsessed with the show while world events become more crazy,” said Weitz.
    Hugh Grant stars as Martin Tweed, a self-aggrandizing, self-loathing show host, ever on the lookout for the next instacelebrity. His latest crop of hopefuls includes Sally (Mandy Moore), a conniving steel magnolia with a devoted, dopey veteran boyfriend (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 – where the president, played by Dennis Quaid, will be judging along with Tweed – the stage is set for a show the nation will never forget.

    Commenting on the filming of Dreamz, Grant said, “Paul’s always been in tune with my darker side. He’s kind of amused by it. He told me that he put a certain amount of that darkness and existential angst into this part, so I felt it was quite a juicy thing to come and actually play it out on screen.”
    Quaid said, “Paul wanted me to play the president, and I said yes without even reading the script. He’s so talented, and I want to hitch myself to his wagon.”