Weitz: 'I'm no Michael Moore'

NEW YORK, April 21 (UPI) -- Paul Weitz says his satirical movie "American Dreamz" is intended to entertain people and generate discussion, not to antagonize anyone.

A satire about U.S. politics and celebrity culture, the film stars Hugh Grant, Mandy Moore, Dennis Quaid and Willem Dafoe and takes swipes at the current U.S. administration, terrorism and the TV show "American Idol."

"When you're making a comedy about really serious issues, you're kind of in the position of being an idiot savant," Weitz said. "You're using the vocabulary of broad comedy to talk about what's most important. And I don't have a Michael Moore-like urge to offend people or get people angry at me. If anything, that idea stresses me out."

Asked if he would screen the film at the White House, if he was invited, Weitz said he'd accept, but would make sure he knew where the nearest exit was, "just in case."

"Some people from the right will be upset by it but also some people from the left might be upset that, actually, eventually, the character has a certain amount of heart and undergoes a bit of transformation. So, I'm probably managing to offend both sides," he said.