'???????'
(Jim Gaffigan, Tammy Blanchard, et al / Blu-ray + Digital / R / 2019 / LGF)
Overview: A down-on-his-luck ride-share driver, who makes extra cash chauffeuring a low-level drug dealer around town, finds himself in a serious financial bind and decides to kidnap the dealer's child.
Blu-ray Verdict: Jim Gaffigan proves there may be life beyond comedy for him, but not beyond the confines of an up and down script, perhaps.
His character is a loser, bound by bad decisions caused by mental illness or depression, or something worse. His motivation for carrying on is to be a father to his son, which is the only likeable characteristic about him, in truth.
But that, of course, totally undermines the credibility of his decisions in a hairbrained kidnapping scheme for a drug dealers daughter. He seems rational enough to talk his way out of getting pulled over, but can't seem to understand the basics of child care and how it plays into collecting his ransom.
This is where certain aspects of the script don't seem overly worked out by the writers leaving the character to fend for himself tonally. I mean, sure, Gaffigan has the range to do so (more here than I think I've ever seen from him), and that will definitely help him in the future, but for the here and now of 'American Dreamer,' well, about a third of this movie seems a wee bit far fetched to be accepted.
Not that 'American Dreamer' is a bad movie, because it sure as heck isn't, but there are too many moments that pull you out of it, making your brain doublecheck with reality of what you've seen could/would actually happen, that's all.
In closing, and with that all said, Gaffigan is spectacular here and pulls your sympathy even though it's undeserved. Robbie Jones is a scary villain who does a tremendous job pulling you into the mess with an awesome performance not to be missed. This is a Widescreen Presentation (2.39:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:
• No Free Rides: Making American Dreamer
See a whole new side of Jim Gaffigan when 'American Dreamer' arrives on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) and DVD November 29th, 2019 from Lionsgate.
The 'American Dreamer' Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $21.99 and $19.98, respectively.
Official 'American Dreamer Trailer
www.LGF.com