A comedic version of "The Ice Storm"

Rating: 5/10 (11 October 1999)

I am really tired of movies and stories about people who can't or won't do the right thing. Or even try to do the right thing. "American Beauty" is a story about seven people: Lester, Carolyn, daughter Jane, neighbors Ricky, his mom and dad, and Angela, temptress girlfriend of Jane. Lester is tired of his Dilbertesque job. He extorts money from the company and quits to go work at a hamburger stand. Carolyn hates her life and feels inadequate at her job so she has an affair. Jane runs off with drug dealer Ricky. Ricky's dad is a homophobe and control freak. He likes to control everything but his own emotions and actions. Ricky's mom is a zombie. Angela is a foul-mouthed American beauty that wants everyone to believe she's the neighborhood tramp.
These pathetic people are not worth watching for 2 hours, especially when the film's narrator tells you he's dead before the story starts. And after a 2 hours, we see him die and learn that Lester is pleased with his life. No Oscar nominations from this non-voting, non-member of the Academy.