Is it possible for a film to be pretty broadly derided yet still provide an entertaining 100-odd minutes? In this instance, the answer is yes. Written, produced, and directed by Paul Weitz (half of the brothers' team), the movie's potshots at TV reality talent shows hit a number of amusing targets, helped greatly by a better cast than one might expect. Hugh Grant is the basically nasty host whom one can't help loving, always looking for a gimmick to find "freaks" for his show to keep up the viewing figures (like pitting a Hassidic Jew against an Arab and inventing a poor white-trash background for aspirant singer Mandy Moore). I personally found the movie sharply written and observed and even the comic-book Arab villains were presented with some affection. The real stand-out for me, however, was Dennis Quaid as a dimbo, himbo recently re-elected US President with more than a touch of the Bushes about him. Throw into the mix Willem Dafoe as the President's puppet-master and Marcia Gay Harden as Quaid's equally challenged wife, plus Chris Klein as Moore's soldier "hero" boyfriend (having been wounded after approximately five minutes in Eye-raq). Bad taste has its appeal at times -- or maybe one just has to be in the right mood to savour it.
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