UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Hugh Grant ("Bridget Jones' Diary") and Dennis Quaid ("In Good Company") star in "American Dreamz," the season's most outrageously funny comedy about living the American dream, from the writer and director of "American Pie," Paul Weitz. Available on DVD October 17, 2006 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, "American Dreamz" takes audiences on a wild ride through the absurd world of reality talent competitions. Featuring an all-star ensemble cast including Mandy Moore ("Saved"), Chris Klein ("American Pie"), Marcia Gay Harden ("Mona Lisa Smile") and two-time Academy Award® nominee Willem Dafoe ("Inside Man"), the film sets the stage for the most shocking and wildly funny talent showdown the country has ever seen.

Hosted by a foul-mouthed, egomaniacal scoundrel (Hugh Grant), "American Dreamz" is the number one television program in America, a real-life talent show that allows singing hopefuls to compete for instant fame. When the President of the United States (Dennis Quaid) agrees to be a judge for the show's finale, a ruthlessly ambitious young woman from America's heartland (Mandy Moore) faces off against a show tune loving immigrant (newcomer Sam Golzari) with potentially explosive results. The DVD is priced at $29.98. Pre-order close is September 12, 2006.

              AMERICAN CRITICS SING PRAISES OF "AMERICAN DREAMZ"

"American Dreamz" won over reviewers from coast to coast, who stopped laughing just long enough to applaud its hilarious take on contemporary values. It is "an outrageously funny film," raves Pete Hammond of Maxim. "A funny and engaging movie!" gushes Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly. Thelma Adams of US Weekly crows, "A riot!"

                                   SYNOPSIS

On the morning of his re-election, the President of the United States (Dennis Quaid) decides to read the newspaper for the first time in four years, starting him down a slippery slope. He holes up in his bedroom, reading obsessively and reexamining his black and white view of the world. Frightened by the President's apparent nervous breakdown, his chief of staff (Willem Dafoe) pushes him back into the spotlight by booking him as a guest judge on the weekly talent show and television ratings juggernaut "American Dreamz."

America can't seem to get enough of the show, which is hosted by self-aggrandizing, self-loathing Martin Tweed (Hugh Grant), ever on the lookout for the next insta-celebrity. His latest crop of hopefuls includes Sally (Mandy Moore), a conniving all-American girl with a devoted, dopey veteran boyfriend (Chris 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, where the President will be judging along with Tweed, the stage is set for a show the nation will never forget.

    For more information please visit: www.americandreamzmovie.com

    CAST & FILMMAKERS
    Written, Directed and Produced By: Paul Weitz
    Produced By:  Rodney Liber, Andrew Miano
    Executive Producers: Chris Weitz, Kerry Kohansky
    Director of Photography: Robert Elswit ASC
    Production Designer: William Arnold
    Edited By: Myron Kerstein
    Costume Designer: Molly Maginnis
    Original Score by: Stephen Trask
    Cast: Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Marcia Gay Harden,
     Chris Klein, Jennifer Coolidge, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Judy Greer, John Cho,
     and Willem Dafoe

    TECHNICAL INFORMATION
    DVD
    Street Date: October 17, 2006
    Pre-Order Close: September 12, 2006
    Copyright: 2006 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Price: $29.98
    Selection Number: 28863 (Widescreen); 28864 (Full Frame)
    Running Time: 1 Hour 48 Minutes
    Layers: Dual Layer
    Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen); 1.33:1 (Full Frame)
    Rating: PG-13 (for brief strong language and some sexual references)
    Technical Info: English, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround;
     English SDH; French and Spanish Subtitles

For artwork or screeners, please log on to our Web site at www.ushepublicity.com or fax your request to Universal Studios Home Entertainment Publicity at (818) 866-0226.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and Entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

    CONTACTS

    Universal Studios Home Entertainment
    Vivian Mayer
    Senior Vice President, Publicity
    (818) 777-3594

    Michelle Slavich
    Director, Publicity
    (818) 777-5344

    Meghan Gamber
    Manager, Print Publicity
    (818) 777-0546

    Kelly Castell
    Assistant Manager, Broadcast Publicity
    (818) 777-0549

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