In quirky, meandering, sub-mediocre dramedy "American Dreamer" struggling college professor Peter Dinklage buys (with the help of realtor Matt Dillon) his dream mansion at a crazy low price by accepting its owner, elderly Shirley Maclaine, as its live-in tenant til she passes. Events complicate as Dinklage trysts with the likes of student Michelle Mylett & one of Maclaine's kids Kimberley Quinn (despite her staunch opposition to the house deal)... and private investigator Danny Glover gets involved too. What exactly notable writer Theodore Melfi was intending is unclear, but Paul Dektor (making various debut director goofs) surely didn't deliver it. Its a disappointingly mess.