American Dreamer

I'm giving this 2 stars, for the "two stars," that's Peter and Shirley. My God I love, love , love Shirley, I'm a big fan, and I love Peter also... what I couldn't love, was this movie.

Obviously I was expecting something in the lines of their comedic or dramatic troupes, unfortunately it didn't happen and it was a huge disappointment.

The few moments of slapstick comedy were so obviously forced, that made me miss Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers. So I didn't laugh at all.

I think the problem nowadays is that everyone is trying too hard, and when it becomes obvious that everything is a copy of something already made (but better), it falls so flat that becomes annoying.

Becoming older, and the reality of death is a fact we could face in many ways...in this case, they finished the project as depressing. The only sort of funny line was the one about "past lives", a wink from Shirley, but it stopped there There's no emotions at all.

Sorry guys, this was a waste of talent and of my time.

I'm not sure what we are supposed to get from this film. Are we supposed to laugh at Peter Dinklage hurting himself? Are we supposed to feel warm with the ending scene? Unfortunately, this film was lost in its tone and made it unremarkable and uninteresting. Characters are flat without any interesting attributes to them or growth throughout the events that unfold. Scenes feel like they have been written by an underperforming novelist who can't figure out how to connect them. The women in this film are one dimensional and seem to only care about sleeping with Dinklage's character, who is a complete fool and drunken slob. A touching moment Dinklage and MacLaine's characters share seems to come out of nowhere, as these characters barely speak to each other about anything true or meaningful. This film was really disappointing and although Dinklage's and MacLaine's performances were great, they could not save this film's life.

Peter Dinklage is Phil, a 50-something non-tenured professor of Economics at a college in Massachusetts (actually shot in British Colombia). As he tells a few of his students when they are in a bar for beers, a man just wants two things, to go home and a good sandwich.

Phil wants both, the sandwich he gets at the vending machine at work, it is sparse but add enough mustard and BBQ sauce from the small packets in the drawer and it fills the bill. Going home is a bit harder. He wants his own house with a strip of yard but can't really afford much.

That is until he sees the ad, an older woman has a very nice, expensive estate and will sell it for an affordable price with one condition - she is allowed to remain living there until she dies while Phil occupies the small adjoining apartment. Phil pools all his resources and takes the plunge.

I have long been a Shirley MacLaine fan, she is the same age as my older sister Sylvia, here she plays the older lady Astrid. Much of the fun in the movie is the interplay between her and Phil after he signs the papers and moves in.

My wife and I watched it streaming on Prime, a totally entertaining movie.

In quirky, meandering, sub-mediocre dramedy "American Dreamer" struggling college professor Peter Dinklage buys (with the help of realtor Matt Dillon) his dream mansion at a crazy low price by accepting its owner, elderly Shirley Maclaine, as its live-in tenant til she passes. Events complicate as Dinklage trysts with the likes of student Michelle Mylett & one of Maclaine's kids Kimberley Quinn (despite her staunch opposition to the house deal)... and private investigator Danny Glover gets involved too. What exactly notable writer Theodore Melfi was intending is unclear, but Paul Dektor (making various debut director goofs) surely didn't deliver it. Its a disappointingly mess.

As a comedy American Dreamer isn't that great, or I must have a totally different sense of humour. Nevertheless it's not a bad movie. It is pleasant to follow, no real dull moments, a bit more dramatic than humorous, and enjoyable actors. Peter Dinklage is well casted for this role, an always dissatisfied grumpy character, a role that fits him well. I couldn't believe how well Shirley Maclaine still looks at her age. She was pushing ninety in this movie, and honestly I couldn't tell. We can only wish to look that fit when we will hit ninety. I would give American Dreamer a 6.5 if it was possible on here.