Amygdalia's Blog

American Dreamer (1984)

The most important thing, kid, is that you’re doing something you like to do.

Housewife Cathy Palmer enters a writing contest, and wins a trip to Paris to meet the author of her favorite series.  Shortly after her arrival, an accident causes her to develop amnesia.  When she awakens in the hospital, she thinks she is Rebecca Ryan, the protagonist from the story contest.  She’s convinced that the author’s son, Alan, is Rebecca’s sidekick, Dimitri.  Soon she’s unwittingly embroiled herself and Alan in Parisian intrigue.  Plot twists will keep you guessing until the very end. 

Jobeth Williams plays plain, discontented housewife Cathy Palmer, and sexy, international spy Rebecca Ryan with equal ease. 

Tom Conti is engaging and funny as the baffled Alan/Dimitri, who allows himself to be dragged into the adventure by the beautiful woman who charges her way into his life. 

I first saw this film in the theater, when I was a high school sophomore.  At the time, I thought Rebecca Ryan ruled.  20+ years later, I still love this movie.  Silly and utterly unrealistic, I still laugh out loud each time I watch it.




Amygdalia