American Dreamer

Name: American Dreamer
Genre: Comedy
Released: March 8, 2024
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 53
Cast: C. Ernst Harth, Danny Glover, Danny Pudi, Gary Chalk, Kimberly Quinn

2024

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Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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American Dreamer

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Movie Details & Credits

Vertical Entertainment | Release Date: March 8, 2024 | Not Rated

Starring: C. Ernst Harth, Danny Glover, Danny Pudi, Gary Chalk, Kimberly Quinn, Matt Dillon, Michelle Mylett, Peter Dinklage, Rebecca Olson, Shirley MacLaine

Summary: American Dreamer, based on a true story from Chicago Public Radio’s The American Life, is the story of Phil Loder (Peter Dinklage), a twice divorced, frustrated, underpaid professor of economics, whose grand dream of home ownership is tragically out of reach. When an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes his way, Phil strikes aAmerican Dreamer, based on a true story from Chicago Public Radio’s The American Life, is the story of Phil Loder (Peter Dinklage), a twice divorced, frustrated, underpaid professor of economics, whose grand dream of home ownership is tragically out of reach. When an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes his way, Phil strikes a deal with Astrid Finnelli (Shirley MacLaine), a lonely, childless, near-death widow who offers her sprawling estate for pennies. But Phil quickly learns the deal is too good to be true and the American dream is not quite what it used to be.… Expand

Director: Paul Dektor

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Rex Reed

Mar 11, 2024

Directed by Paul Dektor from a disarmingly offbeat screenplay by Theodore Melfi, American Dreamer is fresh, original, unpredictable and unexpectedly funny. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Carla Renata

Mar 8, 2024

Although immensely entertaining, Theodore Melfi’s screenplay has some unexplained potholes here and there which will have audiences scratching their heads from time to time. Regardless, it’s clear that director Paul Dektor’s empathy and heart dwell in the right place for a story ultimately asking the questions of what one needs to be happy, how far we are willing to go to achieve it, and what role does loneliness play in these life-altering decisions? Read full review

Screen Rant Ben Gibbons

Mar 8, 2024

While more could have been done to develop Dinklage and MacLaine's characters, or explore the outcome which comes in the film's sudden and succinct conclusion, American Dreamer does a tremendous job of exploring one man's American dream, the lengths he must go to achieve it, and what is waiting for him once he reaches that goal. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Mar 14, 2024

American Dreamer doesn’t so much end as peter (Ahem.) out, with a finale that feels like a series of compromises which no one wanted to winnow down. But if you skip the movie leading up to that, you’ll be missing a lot of laughs and a tale that takes that “Peter Dinklage as sex symbol” thing about as far as it can go. Read full review

Sumner Forbes

May 9, 2024

Those who may not care quite as much about the economic messaging underpinning the film may still find Dinklage careening through windows and getting seduced by hot graduate students worthy of the time investment. Still, there’s no denying that this could have been so much more. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Mar 7, 2024

Most of the enjoyment of “American Dreamer” comes in watching Dinklage react to indignities and awkward moments. Read full review

The Guardian Leslie Felperin

Mar 11, 2025

This low-key oddity has the potential for some proper horsepower given the odd but intriguing casting of Peter Dinklage and Shirley MacLaine, but it never manages to build up much comic or dramatic speed – much like Dinklage’s electric scooter, his main mode of transport throughout. Read full review

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