Christopher Guest (THE PRINCESS BRIDE) has made a career out on doing mockumentaries. His most recent is probably his most subtle, which makes for bigger laughs when it succeeds. I’ve read a few comments about the film being dull. I think those are the viewers that are not getting the joke. This one is plays it very close to the bone.
The story follows a tribute concert put on after the death of famed folk promoter Irving Steinbloom. His son Jonathan (Bob Balaban, GOSFORD PARK) tries to arrange for three of his father’s favorite groups to perform – The Folksmen, The Main Street Singers and Mitch & Mickey. The Folksmen are comprised of bass player Mark Shubb (Harry Shearer, HISTORY OF WHITE PEOPLE IN AMERICA), lead singer/guitar player Jerry Palter (Michael McKean, THIS IS SPINAL TAP) and banjo player Alan Barrows (Guest). The humor of their segments comes from their recollections of their heyday and their thoughts on being retro.
The Main Street Singers have lost members and reformed as The New Main Street Singers, lead by Terry Bohner (John Michael Higgins, WAITING FOR GUFFMAN), a fan of the group since a child. The humor of this part really comes from the relationship between Terry and his wife Laurie (Jane Lynch, BEST IN SHOW), who are into an unusual religion. Higgins’ reactions to his wife are priceless and a highlight of the film.
Then we come to Mitch and Mickey, who in their time were the sweethearts of folk music. But they broke up after Mitch Cohen (Eugene Levy, AMERICAN PIE), went a little loopy and delved into a deep depression. Mickey Crabbe (Catherine O’Hara, ORANGE COUNTY) has moved on from singing and gotten married, but when she sees Mitch again the old feelings seem to come back.
Like Ron Reiner did in THIS IS SPINAL TAP, the music is very good. If you don’t listen to the lyrics closely enough, who’ll miss the humor. Other highlights of the film are Fred Willard (BEST IN SHOW) as Mike LaFontaine, the washed-up TV celeb who now works as The New Main Street Singers’ manager; and the interaction between the paranoid Jonathan Steinbloom and the concert hall manager Lawrence E. Turpin (Michael Hitchcock, BEST IN SHOW). I must say that WAITING FOR GUFFMAN and BEST IN SHOW are still better than A MIGHTY WIND, but the latest from Mr. Guest is still hilarious and ever so sly and smart.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
