Rating: Summary: "Waiting for Guffman" Review: The film "Waiting for Guffman" is very funny to say the least. What made the film funny was the idiosyncrasies that each character brought with them. For example, my favorite was Dr. Allen Pearl, the dentist, because visually he looked as though he belonged in the movie "Revenge of the Nerds," but his dry sense of humor and left field professionalism made him the perfect characature for the part. What really made me laugh was that none of the characters really had any talent for the town play, not even Corky St. Clair (director of the play). For instance, when Dr. Pearl was singing during the plays auditions, his sense of rhythm was nonexistent and pitch way off, but Corky and Lloyd Miller (music director) were astonished by his ability. I really think that making Corky the center of the film made the movie. Corky acted the stereotypical role of a flamboyant gay man. His over emotional persona pushed the film along and made it worth the hour and a half.
Rating: Summary: Guffman Review: I thought this movie was the perfect representation of small town life. In every scene there was something to laugh about! Christopther Guest (Corky) gets together a couple of the town's-people and puts together a play. He thinks it is his ticket back to Broadway! Even thought the actors in the play were horrible, they all think they are presenting the show of a lifetime! Just hillarious!
Rating: Summary: Guffman review Review: This movie was somewhat comical, but lacks any real interest. Nothing really happens that makes the viewer actually want to see more. The only part that I thought was pretty good was the actual play itself. The part with the aliens was very funny. I did not like the fact that no one liked the music teacher and everyone liked the other guy. The fact that I cannot remember his name only reinforces the fact that he didn't really interest me. It did not seem fair that he did not listen to any of the music teacher's comments. The movie didn't show why the actors and actresses liked that guy so much. Why did they love him? Was he that great of a guy? These are questions that should be answered in the movie. If they are not, the viewer is left clueless to many things.
Rating: Summary: Remarkably clever! Review: There's not much to add to the other glowing reviews. It's HILARIOUS! They did make one mistake, though, and that was cutting away from Parker Posey singing "Teacher's Pet." They should have stayed with that for several minutes. Every man in America would be grateful. Don't miss this one if you're into subtle humor. A++.
Rating: Summary: A Modern Classic That Salutes/Roasts Community Theater Review: If you work in ANY branch of live theater, this is the film for you. Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy have written and produced an astonishingly funny and (every now and then) slightly heartbreaking look at the labor pains and triumphant birth of a musical just cheesey enough AND just good enough to make us stand and cheer with the rest of Blaine's audience. Where were the Oscar nominations for these performances? Christopher Guest's Corky St. Clair is broad and multi-layered and very human even at his most absurd; Eugene Levy's Dr. Pearl is quietly and awkwardly hilarious; and Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard are nothing short of brilliant as a cheery married couple (the local travel agents-slash stage stars, or "The Lunts of Blaine" as Corky calls them) with a sad, dark side. This was not a major hit in the theaters (it's too smart to appeal to the masses), and so it's not so easy to find in video stores. If you're a fan of live theater, though, you MUST add this to your VHS library.
Rating: Summary: Fantastic! Review: Guest has done it! I have new faith in the independent film circuit... Hell, in the whole film industry! Fred Willard and Katharine O'Hara are screen gems as Ron and Sheila Albertson, playing the small town big wigs with dillusional visions of a Hollywood life to come.Eugene Levy is a comic genius with his portrayal of Dr. Alan Pearl. The town Dentist with a hankering to recapture his childhood glory as an almost-classclown is too good to be true. Thank you Mr. Levy Parker Posey is a delicious Dairy Queen worker with an hysterical view of the New York City - "It's an Island, full of different people, with different ideas" Understated and subtle comic brilliance! Mr. Guest - Please make more!
Rating: Summary: This could have been so much better Review: This film just lays there. THIS IS SPINAL TAP is a comedy classic, but there was no need for GUFFMAN (another "mockumentary") to follow the SPINAL TAP formula so slavishly. SPINAL TAP, GUFFMAN (and AND GOD SPOKE...) all record inept, self-delusional, no-talent folk trying their hands in show biz (music, theatre, and film, respectively). Both latter films copy SPINAL TAP's formula with rote-like mimickry. There is the low budget setting, the falling out among members, the breakup, the re-union of members. All films heavily emphasize improv, only loosely following a script. I've seen SPINAL TAP over 50 times, and still find new things. GUFFMAN is a tepid copy, full of weaker, recycled jokes. What saves GUFFMAN is its steller cast and their likeable characters. Fred Willard (from SPINAL TAP and FERNWOOD TONIGHT), 2 Second City alumni Catherine O'Hare and Eugene Levy, Christopher Guest, Parker Posey... But GUFFMAN, with its excellent cast, could have been so much better. In comparison, SPINAL TAP is a 5, GUFFMAN a 3, WAITING FOR GOD... a miserable 1.
Rating: Summary: "I work at Dairy Queen" Review: This is probably the funniest movie I have ever seen in my entire life! I work with a small town theatre, and believe me, we could all relate one of those characters to someone we know, which makes it all the more scary! I totally suggest that you see this movie. You'll be rolling on the floor it is so funny!
Rating: Summary: Laugh non-stop Review: This movie is a good reason to stay in on a friday night--this "mock-umentary" had me laughing from the start and I wasn't done until the screen went black. 5 minutes later, I was laughing again. For real, one of the funniest movies ever made...small-town life is exaggerated, therefore making it actually funnier than it really is. Parker Posey and Christopher Guest get my vote for best overall. Buy this one, or just rent it if you want to laugh, laugh, laugh.
Rating: Summary: A wonderful, top notch comedy with a HUGE cast Review: This top- notched cast does so wonderful you don't even know their acting. They get so much into their characters it looks like they were all having so much fun in this mockumentary brought to you by Christopher Guest. Corky St. Clare (Guest) is trying to get a cast together for his play "Red, White and Blaine". The story of the 150 year old town named Blaine, Missouri. St. Clare gets his cast together a dentist (Eugene Levy) a travel agency couple (Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara) who have only been out of Blaine once because of an "opperation", a white-trash Dairy Queen worker (Parker Posey), and a trashy old man (Lewis Arquette). Well, they are horrible. They are the worst actors you can ever imagine. But Corky thinks they are amazing. Corky calls up a New York reviewer, Mort Guffman, to come to the Missouri town to watch this bumbling cast. Hence, the name "Waiting for Guffman." The cast, as a said before, is just amazing. The whole movie makes you just smile and feel good. Also stars Bob Balaban, Matt Keeslar, and Brian Doyle-Murray. Also just some pointless trivia here, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer wrote the lyrics and music to this film. And Guest and Eugene Levy wrote it. Oh, and of course Guest directed. GREAT film. This is one you CAN'T miss out on. Especially if you, yourself, are an actor. You'll really appreciate it.
|