American Dreamer (2022)

Movie Name/Year: American Dreamer (2022)
Genre: Comedy
Length: 1h 38min
Rating: R
Director: Paul Dektor
Writer: Theodore Melfi, Christopher Wehner
Actors: Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine, Matt Dillon, Kimberly Quinn, Danny Pudi, Danny Glover, Michelle Mylett
 
Blurb: American Dreamer is the story of Phil Loder, a professor of economics whose dream of owning a home is tragically out of reach until a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes his way when a widow offers Phil her sprawling estate for pennies.
 

Selina's Point of View:
When I saw I could get access to American Dreamer, I was all over it. I am a Peter Dinklage (I Care A Lot, Game of Thrones, Brothers) fanatic. Dinklage is a master of his craft, and he elevates every actor who opts to work with him. Of course, the rest of the cast didn't need elevating. Not with names like Shirley MacLaine (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Steel Magnolias, Noelle), Danny Glover (The Dead Don't Die, Jumanji: The Next Level, Press Play), Matt Dillan (Going In Style, Asteroid City, The House That Jack Built), and Danny Pudi (Community, DuckTales, Somebody I Used to Know). As a long-time fan of Letterkenny (2016-2023), I also gave a little squee when I saw Michelle Mylett (Bad Blood, Heritage Minutes, Ascension).
 
I had high hopes for American Dreamer based on cast alone. Add to that the inclusion of Hidden Figures (2016) writer/director Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent, The Starling, Winding Roads), and I was sure I was looking at a smash hit.
 

In the end, it wasn't bad. Dinklage's sad sack Phil was somewhat endearing—if a bit cringy at times. I didn't have an issue with his character, but the connections with the other characters felt forced and a bit weird. The ties that were built between Phil and Astrid felt undeserved and strange.
 
The pacing also felt a bit off. From one circumstance to the next, it felt like nothing really flowed. It was as if the film was giving us insight into short stories that made up a much larger one without giving us insight into why certain strides were made. I felt like I was missing entire scenes. I don't know what filming or post-production looked like, so that could have been a writing issue, but it could also have happened in post-production.
 
I wasn't bored; I was just a bit confused. A lot happened, but nothing happened.
 
If you want to decide for yourself, American Dreamer is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime or, for free, on Tubi.
 

Cat's Point of View:
You've probably seen Selina and I mention that we'd watch just about any production that Peter Dinklage was involved with. Imagine my excitement that our first review after this last brief break would be a Dinklage movie. The icing on the proverbial cake was that American Dreamer certainly didn't lack for substantial talent, featuring Shirley MacLaine, Danny Glover, and Matt Dillon, among others.
 
When I first watched the trailer for American Dreamer, I was a little on the fence about whether this particular dramedy would be my cup of tea. If I'm honest, I still am – at least a little.
 
Despite my adoration for the actor, Dinklage's character was a little hard to like, but he grew on me a little. I feel like some plot holes and pacing issues could have been polished up a little, but American Dreamer was, at the very least, a solid offering. Considering this was the director's debut, however, this was an excellent first project.
 

I wasn't mad at the movie, even if I couldn't say this was my favorite.
 
Dillon always excels at portraying a royal ass, and he was in fine form here. The legendary Shirley MacLaine was one of the bright spots of this film. I enjoyed the subtle and wry nature of the humor that her role brought to the movie. Glover was also excellent.
 
I just wasn't knocked out of my seat. I was, unfortunately, aware of the passage of time while watching American Dreamer. For whatever reason, I didn't get immersed in this movie as much as I would have liked. That's not to say that I didn't like American Dreamer. If this sort of dramedy is in your wheelhouse, I encourage you to watch it. I don't think this one is going into my re-watch rotation.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 49%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 80%
Metascore – 53%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 6/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina's Rating – 2.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat's Rating – 3.5/5
 
Movie Trailer: