First of all, those who know me know that I have a penchant for dry humor. That should have been the first clue that I was going to love "Waiting for Guffman". I don't know why it took me so long to see the film since I had seen many other of Christopher Guest's films (Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration). Many people hail Waiting for Guffman as being the best Christopher Guest mockumentary-style film. The thing I like about Guest's (You may also know him as the Six Fingered Man in the "Princess Bride") film is that when you watch one of his films, you are going to see many familiar faces. Guest, along with Eugene Levy and many other actors form somewhat of an ensemble. If you're watching one of Guest's films, you're probably going to also see Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Michael Hitchcock, Bob Balaban, Michael McKean and John Michael Higgins.
Films starring Christopher Guest et al. are mockumentary-type films to a fault. The group will find some sub-section of American society and make fun of it without ever directly mocking it. Whether it be poking fun at people who are way too obsessed with their dogs (Best in Show - my favorite), mocking folk music artists (A Mighty Wind) or, in Waiting for Guffman, mocking the people of a small Midwestern town putting on a musical about their podunk town in the hopes of impressing a Broadway talent critic, Guest knows exactly how to shine a light on the ridiculousness of certain people without ever being mean.
From the very beginning of the film, I was laughing. Blaine, Missouri is a tiny town that was founded by settlers on their way West. They pride themselves on being the site of the first UFO landing (Roswell? No way!) and on being the (foot)stool capital of the world. The town is full of the type of people you'd expect to find in a small Midwestern town: fiercely proud not only of their town but also of America. On that note, Blaine is getting ready to celebrate its 150th anniversary and they want to put on a musical to celebrate. Enter, Corky St. Clair (Guest), flamboyant "bigwig" from the Big Apple who has put on such off-off-off-off Broadway shows as "My Dinner With Andre". In the eyes of starstruck Blainians who have never been this side West or East of the Mississippi, he is a veritable playwright god! It's up to the experienced Corky to write, direct, and choreograph "Red, White, and Blaine", a musical homage to the great town of Blaine.
A rag tag group of townies chosen to act in the musical is assembled, practice begins, and Alexandra, having lived in both Ohio and Illinois, is on the floor laughing at how perfectly Midwestern the cast is. Parker Posey is a girl who works at the local DQ, Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard are humble travel agents who have barely traveled but who sport some fierce polyester track suits among other spot on characters. Through a number of trials and tribulations, "Red, White, and Blaine" goes off without a hitch, it's met even with a standing ovation by the audience (i.e. Blaine residents). But where is the titular Guffman? Mort Guffman, the Broadway critic whose thumbs up or down means success or failure for the troupe. Although the movie doesn't have much to do with Beckett's Waiting for Godot, I figured that Guffman wouldn't show. I was right. The troupe is heartbroken and can't believe it.
3 months later, we catch up with the cast of "Red, White, and Blaine" who have all been bit by the acting bug and pursue an acting career outside of Blaine. However, only Fred Willard and Catherine O'Hare make it big (they get a gig as extras in an advertisment).
Waiting for Guffman is another great Christopher Guest film and I can't believe it took me so long to see it. Best in Show is still my favorite of his films, but Corky St. Clair and the Blainians earn a close spot at the top.
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