Rating: 
Summary: HILARIOUS FUN!
Review: This movie is so great! Shot as a mock documentary about a small-town theater troupe, WAITING FOR GUFFMAN stars some of the funniest people in Hollywood including Christopher Guest (THIS IS SPINAL TAP, THE PRINCESS BRIDE), Catherine O'Hara (HOME ALONE), Eugene Levy (SCTV), and Parker Posey (DAZED AND CONFUSED). The whole cast is hilarious. My favorite is a town councilman (Michael Hitchcock) who seems to be a "groupie" of the leader of the troupe (Guest). If you haven't seen this film yet, it is well worth your time. END
Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Mockumentaries
Review: The "Mockumentary" was first created by Christopher Guest and director Rob Reiner in "This Is Spinal Tap", perhaps the funniest movie ever made about Hard Rock(This includes unintentionally funny films like "Rock Star"). In "Waiting for Guffman", which Guest also directed along with sharing writing duties with Eugene Levy, Guest turns up the satire to 11 and perfects what he created back in the 80's. "Guffman" is of course the first of now three mockumentary films directed by guest and co-written with Levy. I consider "Waiting for Guffman" to be the best, because, as funny as "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind" are, they don't quite get into the full character development that Guest and his stable of improv comedy geniuses achieve in "Guffman". They story is simple: Guest plays Corky St. Clair, alleged former Broadway type, who now lives in the small town of Blaine, Missouri. Corky has become a local celebrity for his small theater productions, which are of course awful, but seem like Shakespere to the small-town residents of Blaine(Corky's most notroious production was a musical version of "Backdraft" that went terribly awry). Anyway, Corky is hired by the town fathers to produce a musical history of Blaine for the town's 150th anniversary. He jumps into it, and what follows is the hilarious journey he and his cast take while putting the play together. The title "Waiting for Guffman", obviously a takeof of "Waiting for Godot", refers to a New York theater reviewer whom Corky has convinced to come see the play. Having no real eye for talent himself, Corky convinces his cast and himself that their musical is good enough to get them to Broadway. And so they throw all of their less than considerable talent into it. The genius of Guest And Levy's writing is that the only thing they actually write are teh basic storyline and sketches for each character, which explains why the actors in these films are as good as they are. They literally invent most of the details of their lives for the camera, and with master improvists like Levy, Guest, Parker Posey, Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard on their usual list of suspects, it's no wonder why their films are so funny. Even so, "Guffman" is funniest, with the most satisfying and appropriate ending of all three films and with the funniest musical ever put on camera, "Red, White, & Blaine". They town itself becomes a character and it is a testimony to all the smaller players that the whole movie brims with humor from one scene to the next. The fact that the characters are the only ones not in on th joke also makes this movie a delight. "Best in Show" is slicker, and "A Mighty Wind" has more emotional resonance, but "Waiting for Guffman" is the gold standard by which all future Mockumentaries must be judged.
Rating:
Summary: After years, and years of clinical research.
Review: I have determined that this is funniest movie of all time. If you don't agree with me, or even worse, if you don't
"get it", you are part of the problem, and deserve everything
you have coming to you.
Rating:
Summary: A Must-See! Hilarious and Wonderfully Entertaining!
Review: A wonderfully hilarious and heartfelt mockumentary by Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy who recently wrote the hit movie "Best in Show." This ingenious film tells the story of Corky St. Clair(Guest, who is also the director), a New York actor/director living in the small Missouri town, Blaine. He has written a new musical entitled "Red, White, and Blaine" to celebrate the town's 150th anniversary. Next, he must find the perfect cast. Enter Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Lewis Arquette, and of course Eugene Levy, who create some of the funniest theatrical characters since Mel Brooks' The Producers! Corky has sent a letter to some New York producers, and one has agreed to fly down to Blaine and see the show, Mort Guffman. The cast becomes extremely excited as they gear up for the possibility of a future on Broadway. Through superbly acted situations and comedic timing and poise, the rehearsel's finally culminate to the movies best scene. The opening night of "Red, White, and Blaine." I could not stop laughing at the cameos, the well-crafted characters, and the overall joy that was rampant throughout this great little movie. Anyone who enjoys theatre or just wants to see a great movie nust see this one!
Rating:
Summary: Any Community Thespian Will Appreciate It!
Review: Anyone who has ever worked in small-town community theatre will recognize SOMEbody in this movie! As one of those actor/directors myself, this is HYSTERICAL! (Particularly the carefully blank looks on the faces of the casting directors during the abominable auditions. Been there, done that!) Cinematic perfection!
Rating:
Summary: Movie Perfection!
Review: I can't get enough when it comes to Christopher Guest's movies. His films remind me of Woody Allen movies in that the storylines are so unique and the jokes can be very subtle, but killer funny nonetheless. Now if you had paid money to see this musical that these characters are putting on, you'd probably hate it. However, it makes for a hilarious movie. I mean the songs are even catchy. Go figure!
Rating: 
Summary: mockumentary, I see you now...
Review: When initially putting this film in one might be feel that instead of an apparent comedy they have rented a documentary. However, very shortly thereafter one will never make that mistake again. It is true that Guest has his subtleties with this "mockumentary"; however, that is only half the story.
Speaking of which, the story is seemingly a documentary about a small town in Missouri named Blaine. The town is preparing for their 150th anniversary, and with a little help from a New Yorker, also attempted-writer played by Guest himself, the town decides a play would be most appropriate.
To some this may seem a bit dull, and I will admit one can hear most of the humor and look away every now and then. Yet the seriousness that these "actors" from Blaine show, and how much they care for this role is just funny.
Now, I am not saying this is for everyone, but seeing how much success the documentary style has had recently, maybe it is time to go back to this film, or even visit it for the first time.
Rating:
Summary: Has its moments
Review: Waiting for Guffman is one of those "Mockumentaries" like "Best in Show", "A Mighty Wind" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous". This one is made by the same people who brought you "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind". In fact, it seems to be the same group starring in all these films, which makes them all run together.
"Waiting for Guffman" has its moments and one-liners. I didn't think it was as funny as "Best in Show" or "A Mighty Wind", but it was still good. There is lots of subtle humor that might make you smile, even if you aren't laughing out loud. A decent story, though it drags at times. Worth a watch if nothing else is going on.
Rating:
Summary: Red State Hilarity Spills Out of Broadway Bound Dreams
Review: I remember very well Corky St. Clair's first appearance on "Saturday Night Live" in the late eighties when he was providing ballet lessons to Martin Short and Harry Shearer, who were playing brothers training to be the first male synchronized swimming team to enter the Olympics. Christopher Guest has resuscitated his character, a rather effete and somewhat flamboyant choreographer/stage director, for this monumentally funny satire on small-town theatre productions. As the master of his own film genre, the mockumentary, Guest brings his keen observational skills to a first-person interview movie, pre-dating the current glut of reality shows and capturing that strangely compelling feeling when life starts to feel more real when it's lived on-camera. Along with co-star Eugene Levy, he has written a surprisingly revealing character study of a group of people living predictable existences in the mythical town of Blaine, Missouri, the stool capital of the world. Thanks to Corky's skewed eye for raw talent and his infectious ambition, they are chosen for a musical history pageant about the town, "Red, White and Blaine", and slowly start to harbor dreams of stardom. The title refers to an influential New York theater critic that Guest is hoping will come and see the show, so they can all make it to Broadway. Far-fetched? You bet.
Guest has assembled a cast of brilliant comic actors to bring these rural, red-state characters to life. Levy plays enthusiastic newcomer, Dr. Allan Pearl, a tone-deaf dentist with coke-bottle glasses, who quickly comes out of his self-imposed shell with his stage debut. He captures all the pride and humiliation of his character with an untimely knack for borscht-belt-style humor. Indie-film princess Parker Posey portrays Libby Mae Brown, a Dairy Queen counter girl who wins her role by performing a saucy version of Doris Day's "Teacher's Pet". She especially shines when she talks about her idea of low-calorie "blizzards" or about "meeting guys" in New York. As Ron and Sheila Albertson, the showbiz-savvy couple who run a local travel agency, Fred Willard and Catherine O'Hara bring their familiar brio to two souls that have an unsuspecting dark side. In particular, in the midst of exposing Ron's penile reduction surgery to the Pearls, O'Hara has a drunken scene in a Chinese restaurant that is as devastating as it is hilarious. There are lots of wonderful actors in smaller roles like Larry Miller as the clueless mayor; Bob Balaban as the put-upon music teacher at creative odds with Corky; and Michael Hitchcock as a Streisand-loving town council member dying to be in the show. Guest himself manages to transcend the obvious stereotype of his character by injecting an oddly affecting warmth that makes Corky ironically empathetic to the viewer, especially as his dreams seem to slip away near the end. But the humor is never lost, and the coda, where Corky shows off his movie memorabilia in his novelty store, is hysterical.
The movie is only 84 minutes, so the DVD contains loads of deleted scenes - a couple of interesting scenes that show the darker elements behind the Albertsons' hapless façade; Libby using some anachronistic Actors' Studio-like Method techniques in her audition; an extended production number called "Bulging River" which actually shows off the musical talents of the cast; and a meandering driving scene that shows Corky telling each of the cast that they won parts in his show. This movie is a complete delight worthy of repeat viewings.
Rating:
Summary: Most excellent
Review: Rolled around on the floor and laughed and laughed...especially funny for those of us from small towns, and if you have ever been in little theater you will love this. Even if none of the above apply, buy this and you will laugh yourself silly.
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