Is An Upcoming Movie A Fictionalized Version Of A Top TV Show??

[Joseph_Gallant]

A few days ago, I went to the movies and prior to the feature, there was a "preview" for a movie opening this Spring titled "American Dreamz" (that's right, the word "Dreamz" is spelled with a "z", and is spelled that way to avoid confusion with the recent NBC-TV dramatic series "American Dreams", which was spelled with an "s").

Apparantly, this is a movie about a TV talent competition that appears to be very much like the real-life "American Idol": In the trailer, I noticed a stage a little bit similar to "Idol"'s; a Clay Aiken look-and-sing-alike; a nasty male judge with a British accent similar to Simon Cowell; and a young Ryan Seacrest-esque emcee, supposedely at the end of a broadcast, urging viewers to call-in their votes. In the trailer, there also appears to be a immigrant from the Middle East who sang show tunes who I think also has something to do with the plot of the movie.

Hugh Grant is in this movie in some role or another.

Based from what I have seen of the trailer, I doubt this film will be very successful. It might play for a couple of weeks, and then fade to the bargain bin of the DVD department.

 

[clichemoth]

> Based from what I have seen of the trailer, I doubt this
> film will be very successful. It might play for a couple of
> weeks, and then fade to the bargain bin of the DVD
> department.
>


It can't be any worse than From Justin To Kelly...

 

[FilmCritic3000]

> A few days ago, I went to the movies and prior to the
> feature, there was a "preview" for a movie opening this
> Spring titled "American Dreamz" (that's right, the word
> "Dreamz" is spelled with a "z", and is spelled that way to
> avoid confusion with the recent NBC-TV dramatic series
> "American Dreams", which was spelled with an "s").
>
> Apparantly, this is a movie about a TV talent competition
> that appears to be very much like the real-life "American
> Idol": In the trailer, I noticed a stage a little bit
> similar to "Idol"'s; a Clay Aiken look-and-sing-alike; a
> nasty male judge with a British accent similar to Simon
> Cowell; and a young Ryan Seacrest-esque emcee, supposedely
> at the end of a broadcast, urging viewers to call-in their
> votes. In the trailer, there also appears to be a immigrant
> from the Middle East who sang show tunes who I think also
> has something to do with the plot of the movie.
>
> Hugh Grant is in this movie in some role or another.
>
> Based from what I have seen of the trailer, I doubt this
> film will be very successful. It might play for a couple of
> weeks, and then fade to the bargain bin of the DVD
> department.
>

Here's the synopsis of "American Dreamz".


On the morning of his re-election, the President (Quaid) decides to read the newspaper for the first time in four years. This starts him down a slippery slope. He begins reading obsessively, reexamining his black and white view of the world, holing up in his bedroom in his pajamas. Frightened by the President’s apparent nervous breakdown, his Chief of Staff (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 (Grant), ever on the lookout for the next insta-celebrity. His latest crop of hopefuls includes Sally (Moore), a conniving steel magnolia with a devoted, dopey veteran boyfriend (Klein), and Omer, 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.

Of course it won't be successful. It makes fun of the slack-jawed morons who love "Glorified Karaoke Contest". Satire is not something they'd understand. But the point of the movie isn't the singing show; it's the fact that people in this society blind themselves from the news in favor of being complacent in their ignorance. Our national past-time is celebrating mediocrity and this movie appears to address that notion. I look forward to seeing it.

The poster for American Dreamz is brilliant, BTW.

http://www.latinoreview.com/filmpreview_image.php?id=4336

 

[RobertMoore]

According to www.movie-source.com, it comes out April 21st and is rated PG13. That would put it close to the final 4 weeks of "American Idol". As for whether this will affect the show that remains to be seen but I don't think it will.