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plot summary: Flamboyant NY-transplant Corky St. Clair (Guest) directs an eccentric group of small town locals in a sesqacentennial musical play based on the history of their hometown, Blaine, MO. This film is done in a "mockumentary" style and the lines are mostly ad-libbed. From the fellow who also brought us This Is Spinal Tap.
review: One of the (many) wonderful things about living in Austin, TX, is the local theaters bring this 1997 classic comedy back to the big screens frequently! This is definitely one of my favorite comedies of all time, and I think Christopher Guest is well on his way to becoming a member of my very elitist "Favorite Male Actor" list. (Quite a feat!)
If you've seen This Is Spinal Tap, then you have a good idea of the kind-of humour involved here: incredibly sly, deadpan, blink-and-you'll-miss-it, why-is-everyone-laughing? kind-of humour. It's one of those films that you'll want to watch over and over again to catch hidden jokes! For example, "Blaine" has six letters in it...see the movie, and you'll get it! ; ) In fact, a lot of people don't "get" this movie, so if you're not a fan of SCTV and the like, maybe you should just ignore me right now... ; )
However, unlike This Is Spinal Tap, I think Waiting For Guffman is kinder...it doesn't look down on its main characters the way, I felt, Spinal Tap did...sure, these locals are quirky, but I felt their characters were portrayed in a kind, gentle light, where you're not laughing at them, but with them. You like these guys! You want to see them succeed, and have a good show. (Although reality tells you that they'll never see Broadway...) And while Guest's over-the-top portrayal of a gay man could have been considered stereotypical and mean in the hands of some other actor, I felt he gave Corky such a tender humanity. The joke was never about "Oh, aren't homosexuals quirky?" (like The Birdcage) because, darn it, everyone was quirky!!!
And as for the other performers, Guest usually employs the same group of actors everytime, so if you've seen his latest effort Best In Show then you'll recognize the faces of the fabulous Catherine O'Hara, Fred Willard, Parker Posey and Eugene Levy. These guys are such masters of improv comedy, coming up with the most hysterical lines. (Guest's lines are among my faves, like: "I hate you...and I hate your ass...face!") And Parker impressed me with her sharp humour, too. She really holds her own among the SCTV, SNL and other comedy veterans.
This is a perfect party rental! And a must-see for anyone who's ever done community or small theater. :) Just hysterical... : )(janice.11.00)
postscript: I just learned that Christopher Guest has been married to Jamie Lee Curtis for the past twelve years, which definitely hurts his admission into my "Favorite Male Actors" list (I told you it was an elitist bunch...). She is what Jennifer Love Hewitt will be. (JLC=JLH, both are known for horror movies, both have horsey faces, bad fashion sense, big breasts...)
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