But that's the premise that i really liked about the film. Everything is incredibly over the top, so that the cocksure Penn is constantly upstaged, as everybody is somewhat superior to him. i really enjoyed this irony, and the fact that he still gets away in the end, but definitely bruised by the Americana he encountered. Actually this could be my favorite movie by Stone, as i usually don't think his criticism is completely successful when he goes "serious" (he also often uses too much pathos for my taste).