IS THE SANJAYA MALAKAR EFFECT, AN EXAMPLE OF ART IMITATING AMERICAN DREAMZ??!!

Score-
First Contact: Lt. Cmdr.
Official Rank: Lt.

I actually saw this in theatre, but obviously the film was made for DVD, as it quickly tanked about a year ago. Still, this parody of America's monster hit talent competition, finds this season's American Idol is following the little seen movie- a little too closely.

Basically, Hugh Grant beautifully plays- the fusion of Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest of the Dreamz show and thinks its just of another season of looking for suckers, one of whom will get to be a real pop star.

This year, Mandy Moore's wanna-be, slightly classier Britney type, is caught faking her emotions on her tryout tape. Grant- after a worrisome pause, declares her "A Dirty Little Bitch," instantly falls in love with her and basically attempts to rig the show in her favor.

Her key rival, a Arab refugee- Omer Obeidi with a winning drive and smile. He sings these OK, pro-American songs that somehow keep getting passes from the U.S. voters. Worse yet, the kid is forced by old, terrorist ties to get to the finals, so they can blow-up the audience and crew in the million dollar round across the country.

I remember the audience of this satire actually connecting with the 1-D characters, Grant (snarky, and vain) and Moore (whose selfish & frigid) do end up together and strike that final match of violence, when the Malakar like kid, comes to his senses & dumps the explosives in the restroom (before meeting the Bush-like U.S. president, the target of the attack.)

Her well-meaning, but thick headed boyfriend (Chris Klein) finds Grant & Moore doing it backstage.

He finds the bomb and exposes them as cheats during her act. Long story short- Grant while convincing the Solider boy, not blow up the studio, (successfully figuring he just wanted to blow off some his anger), accidentally sets off the bomb with the camera and kills them both. Everyone else escapes, inclined the Prez and Moore, dolled up- but covered in dark dust. Moore and Omer both lose the money- to Klein by popular vote. Moore...despite cheating, ends up the new host of the show. Only on FOX.

The film is good for rental as the film is funny, even when the bad mix of media and political satire never go well together. Seth Meyers from SNL and Dennis Quaid's dead-on impression of the nation's least popular and arguably, dumbest leader- add to the film unbalanced equation. Its has very good moments that don't add up too much in message or understanding. Dreamz gives encompasses a that was fun feel, but ultimately becomes very pointless and instantly forgettable.

But, what do you think about the film and/or the odd similarity to the real Idol competition? Click on the comments tab & Type away...