By Rob N. LeDonne

From Paul Weitz, the director of About A Boy and In Good Company comes American Dreamz, a zany satire that generally disappoints.

The film centers around an ensemble cast, all somehow involved with an “American Idol” type program called “American Dreamz,” hosted by hotshot Martin Tweed (Hugh Grant). Then there are the contestants; Mandy Moore plays Sally Kendoo, a Kelly Clarkson-type character, and newcomer Sam Golzari is a member of an Al Qaeda sleeper cell with a scheme to get on American Dreamz the night the President is appearing and blow himself up.

If it doesn’t sound crazy enough, then throw in a mirror image of the Bush Administration (never mentioned, but heavily alluded to) with Dennis Quaid as the president, Willem Dafoe as his bald, demanding vice president, and Marcia Gay Harden as the soft spoken and easily agreeable first-lady.

While the movie seems interesting on paper, its execution is weak. The plot rolls along in hills and valleys, gaining the viewer’s interest one minute only to lose it the next. The cast is talented, but the pacing is so tedious that it’s barely noticeable. Weitz, who produced and directed, wrote the film all by himself, which might account for the loose ends.

There is, however, some standout performances, not only in the all star cast list mentioned, but other supporting smaller roles as well. Highlights included Chris Klein and Jennifer Coolidge, who play Kendoo’s boyfriend and mother. Hugh Grant, the apparent star, seems to be playing the same role that he has in all of his other films. With a snooty British accent and boyish good looks, he offers a bland, phoned-in, performance.

It’s a tough call on this one, but see the film if you enjoy anyone from the cast, or just satire in general, just don’t expect too many laughs.