American Dreamer (2022 film)

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American Dreamer
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPaul Dektor
Screenplay byTheodore Melfi
Story by
  • Theodore Melfi
  • Chris Wehner[1]
Based onA segment from This American Life
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyNicolas Bolduc
Edited byLisa Jane Robison
Music byJeff Russo
Production
companies
Distributed byVertical Entertainment
Release dates
  • June 11, 2022 (2022-06-11) (Tribeca)
  • March 8, 2024 (2024-03-08) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

American Dreamer is a 2022 American black comedy film directed by Paul Dektor (in his feature debut) and written by Theodore Melfi. Based on a segment from the radio show This American Life, it stars Peter Dinklage as a professor who tries to buy the estate of a lonely widow played by Shirley MacLaine. Kim Quinn, Danny Pudi, Danny Glover, and Matt Dillon also star.

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2022. It was released in the United States on March 8, 2024.

Premise[edit]

Dr. Phil Loder, a low-level, adjunct professor of economics, has always dreamed of owning a home. His wish becomes a possibility when a lonely widow offers Phil her sprawling estate for pennies. The deal, however, is too good to be true.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

The independent film American Dreamer was first announced on February 2, 2021, with Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine, and Kimberly Quinn attached to star.[3] In March, Danny Glover, Matt Dillon, Danny Pudi, and Michelle Mylett joined the cast;[4] production began on March 15 in Vancouver, and was set to conclude on April 16, 2021.[5] Filming also took place in Victoria, British Columbia, where partial parts of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings were converted into "Brockton University" as the film is set in Massachusetts.[6]

Release[edit]

American Dreamer had a world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2022.[2][7] It was released in the United States by Vertical Entertainment on March 8, 2024.[8]

Reception[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 48% of 25 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.4/10.[9] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 60 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[10]

Carla Renata of RogerEbert.com gave the film three out of four stars and wrote, "Emmy winner Peter Dinklage is a perfect thespian match for the legendary Shirley MacLaine when it comes to curmudgeon-laced dialogue, while simultaneously giving these characters so much heart and grit that audiences will be inspired to reach into the screen to give them a hug. They're a wonderful duo, and it's their contributions and chemistry that anchor the film."[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "American Dreamer". Writers Guild of America West. September 2, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "American Dreamer". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 2, 2021). "Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine To Star In Paul Dektor-Helmed American Dreamer; Ted Melfi Script". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 22, 2021). "Dark Comedy American Dreamer Adds Danny Glover, Matt Dillon, Danny Pudi, Michelle Mylett". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "DGC BC Production List" (PDF). Directors Guild of Canada. March 5, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine among stars of movie being filmed in Victoria". CIVI-DT. April 5, 2021. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  7. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (April 19, 2022). "Tribeca Festival Lineup Includes Corner Office With Jon Hamm, Ray Romano's Somewhere In Queens, More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  8. ^ Grobar, Matt (February 1, 2024). "Tribeca Comedy 'American Dreamer' Starring Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine Goes To Vertical". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "American Dreamer". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 15, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  10. ^ "American Dreamer". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  11. ^ Renata, Carla (March 8, 2024). "American Dreamer". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.

External links[edit]

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