Martin Tweed, played suitably by Grant, is the despicable TV host of a talent show. He treats his staff abominably and is interested only in making his show as vulgar and controversial as possible.
Meanwhile, Quaid plays a thinly disguised parody of Bush, as the US president in the middle of a nervous breakdown. His chief of staff (an almost unrecognizable Dafoe) acts as his puppeteer.
Add to the mix two would-be singers and competitors in the show: a female version of Tweed (Moore, as a white trash parody of Britney Spears) and a failure of Muslim terrorist, who loves American musicals.
The result is a movie that satirizes everything: obsession with celebrities; shallowness; white trash; fanatic terrorists; stupid politicians; self-centered TV personalities; the Middle East; the West; etc...
The low rating might indicates that the movie is uncomfortable to watch, rather than amusing - which was my case.
Unfortunately, in the 11 years since the movie was released, the socio-political situation did not improve a bit. The current US president is a worst fool than Bush, terrorism is out of control and celebrity-obsessed youth is shallower than ever. Not much to laugh about.
Meanwhile, Quaid plays a thinly disguised parody of Bush, as the US president in the middle of a nervous breakdown. His chief of staff (an almost unrecognizable Dafoe) acts as his puppeteer.
Add to the mix two would-be singers and competitors in the show: a female version of Tweed (Moore, as a white trash parody of Britney Spears) and a failure of Muslim terrorist, who loves American musicals.
The result is a movie that satirizes everything: obsession with celebrities; shallowness; white trash; fanatic terrorists; stupid politicians; self-centered TV personalities; the Middle East; the West; etc...
The low rating might indicates that the movie is uncomfortable to watch, rather than amusing - which was my case.
Unfortunately, in the 11 years since the movie was released, the socio-political situation did not improve a bit. The current US president is a worst fool than Bush, terrorism is out of control and celebrity-obsessed youth is shallower than ever. Not much to laugh about.