Padookie, Ohio’s best karaoke singer, a bronzed and botoxed Arab-American family from the OC (Orange County), a bonehead U.S. president, a show-tune performing Iraqi terrorist, and a shrewd Hollywood producer. In one word the combination is, well, random. However, in Mandy Moore and Hugh Grant’s new movie “American Dreamz” the array of absurdity framed an enjoyable political comedy that will have audiences both cracking up and doing double takes on some of societies most acceptable principles.

“American Dreamz” pushes timely and controversial issues surrounding American government, pop culture and media influence into the forefront of the minds of audiences in an easy to swallow way by simply poking fun at them. The film contains hilarious satiric spoofs of actual events and people any American would recognize.

Hugh Grant plays Martin Tweed, the self-involved, big-shot producer of the #1 “reality” television show called “American Dreamz.” His British accent and blunt remarks, coined by “American Idols'” Simon Cowell sound all too familiar.

Fiend-like fans, from unemployed bar patrons, to the OC’s richest neighborhood, all the way to the White House, and as far as the war grounds in Iraq, tune in week after week.

On his tireless search for contestants that will guarantee the show’s continued success, Tweed equates “star quality” with a sellable story and a gimmicky image.

Sally (Mandy Moore), from “po-dunk” Padookie, Ohio is one of Tweed’s top picks for the show. Half loveable, down-home girl next door; half narcissistic, attention-starved ham, desperate for fame at any cost, this undercover diva works her charm like a light switch to get herself into the spotlight.

Sally’s longtime, hopelessly devoted boyfriend (Klein) is just a casualty of war in her ruthless efforts to obtain stardom. Where Sally represents the disturbing product of celebrity sensationalism in the media, her dunce boyfriend epitomizes the naivety of misinformed soldiers as he enlists into the military and is haphazardly sent to Iraq after only two weeks of training.

An Iraqi terrorist who is infatuated with American pop culture and the dopey President of the United States (Dennis Quaid) finds himself in the middle of the “American Dreamz” hype and things get interesting to say the least.

Every character nailed their over-the-top roles, but the most enjoyable performance came from the wannabe pop-star, Arabian American whose melodramatic antics and truly memorable rendition of “Super Freak” served as the highlight for me. It was hilarious.

“Moore hits the big screen like we’ve never seen her before. Not only did Moore break away from her squeaky-clean image, with a role that takes outright stabs at it, but she also packed a few extra womanly pounds onto her lean frame, which in itself is a sign of rebellion against America’s standards for the female celebrity.

“American Dreamz” is America exaggerated, but really only sightly. This movie proves to be more than just a wacky comedy, so make sure to read between the lines.

Rating: 4 ½ out of 5.

Elaine Welteroth can be reached at [email protected].