The Complicated Cruelty of Christopher Guest

[@SaintVodou]

“Cruel” is when you ridicule your subject from a distance-usually above it. Satire is when you immerse yourself in that subject and explore it from the inside. The more you know and love it, the funnier the satire. That’s why no one laughs harder at Guest movies than actors, dog lovers and musicians.

[@notverynotoriousg5674]

The first time I saw Waiting for Guffman was with a bunch of community theater people, and they were quick to point out the nuance. I think they took Guest as part of the family because there is so much of it. I think a good way to illustrate it is with A Mighty Wind, talk to anyone that knows folk music and they can tell you how songs are crafted exactly like folk songs, just the lyrics are a quirky turn, while so many folk songs are about wandering nomads they present a guy that never left his hometown. Its like inside jokes for people that love folk music that normies aren't going to get. I think a part of it too is American literature is full of people that Faulkner called "the irredeemables", and there is a bit of that, these people kind of stuck living out a fate that isn't really much of their own choosing, but in Guest films they make the best of it instead of burning barns. Should the banal really escape their fate, I don't think so. Everything shouldn't be happily ever after.

[@SaintVodou]

@@notverynotoriousg5674 It’s a relative rarity to find references to classic literature here in the movie section. I loved the analogy you made, comparing Guest’s characters to Faulkner’s “irreedeemables”. Did you read THE SOUND AND THE FURY, by any chance? With some tweaks, I can see Guest assuming the POV of Dilsey (the servant whose observations are the last part of the book). He’s aware of his characters’ limitations, but that doesn’t mean he’s without empathy; he empathizes. but that doesn’t mean he’s unaware of their limitations. Thanks for an interesting thought-provoking perspective.

[@RichardSykes-kg9et]

I think British rock bands’ purported laughter must be pretty brittle, that’s a savage skewering they get there in Spinal Tap. Every scene is toe-curling, it’s relentless horror. Ha ha!

[@TheRacboys]

What about crackers😂? I luv the movies he has done. He pokes fun at everybody it is called comedy.

[@TheWingus]

When “This Is Spinal Tap” came out, musicians would tell him they knew the guys he was parodying. He didn’t know any of them. He was satirizing people, places and events, there was no cruelty at all

[@bean6344]

Can we please get some documentation on who exactly find these films punching down and cruel?

[@iniuppa]

There is nothing in any of these films that is as bleak as this video.

[@lynnmckenna9934]

I totally agree! This video feels bleak…. And like the creator of it was inventing bleakness that does not exist!

[@Darren_McGovern-ROF]

Very true. This “analysis” is far more insulting to all involved, than anything he’s done. And it’s not for humors sake, it’s to feel superior.

[@fuhrersavior9575]

@@lynnmckenna9934 yeah. Cruelty? Really? I think someone likes the sound of her own voice.

[@danielebowman]

It's a strange criticism. As if the KZbinr can't understand most people chasing fame will never achieve it or their 15 minutes will never catapult them further and many people drawn to fame or success in these ways are often deluded, but that is just a character flaw, they can al be still good but deluded, people and the films explore that against the Hollywood narrative where people always achieve their dreams. These mockumentaries lovingly explore the truth, they don't.

[@scooterlafontaine5937]

Punching Down? Jesus. As someone who grew up in a small, broken, and dead-end town, I can attest: Guest is not mocking people, he's showing you a reflection of the realities that these people live in. I love these movies because I've lived many a real life scene from any of these films in Dairy Queen parking lots, talent shows, and other social ephemera.

[@dancewomyn1]

@ Scooter LaFontaine....Thank you! I agree with everything you say here. There seems to be no historical reference point for young people, (or they're not interested in checking) this idea of :punching down: is void of knowledge of true life experiences in an era that no one from this generation remembers. The ultimate effect is to slowly chisel away at films, books, poems, theater, individuals...until there's no trace of the past left.

[@The_ScapeGoat]

@@dancewomyn1..."only an endless present, in which the party is always right."

[@ccmjj9770]

@@dancewomyn1 Couldn’t agree more with you and Scooter’s comment. I’ve heard this type of thinking referred to as “Presentism” -comparing everything to today’s social & cultural morays, and with no interest or understanding of what’s come before.

[@notverynotoriousg5674]

@@ccmjj9770 I am generally easily triggered by things like the transphobia, having transgender friends it really bugs me people view them as less than human, but I don't think Harry Shearer does that, its more like FOX News talking about Rachel Levine and drag queens reading books to children. The two really can't be compared or it dampens the present hate spewed by FOX News. Lets recognize the problem isn't Christopher Guest or Harry Shearer, they aren't gateway drugs to the fascism of FOX News.

[@SomethingSomethingg]

I'm from Maine lol. This is literally everyone in Maine except Stephen King lol. Just dead and from birth to death.

[@ReverendElation]

If you think its cruel then you don’t get it.

[@sonicmuse]

I do agree that Guest’s film endings (i.e., the “Six Months Later” denouements) are bleak and, to some degree, narratively unsatisfying, but I’m just not seeing the cruelty. While the fate of his characters is indeed a depressing affair, the tone struck is a starkly realistic one, one that most people- and not just those of us with delusions of grandeur- can relate to in one way or another. His endings may be anticlimactic and dreary, but that seems to be the point. Rather than cater to our understandable addiction to happy endings, Guest forces us to confront the often harsh realities of not only showbiz but life itself. I don’t see these endings as making fun of his characters for having dreams but as an effort to underscore the fact that the pursuit of their particular dreams was delusional from the start, mostly owing to lack of genuine talent. Further, his characters never seem particularly unhappy with their fate, even if we the audience members would find such a fate personally unrewarding. We are therefore able to retain our sense of sympathy for/with them without actually feeling bad for them... and certainly without mocking them. And if we don’t feel compelled to cruelly mock them, can the argument really he made that Guest is cruelly mocking them?

[@grayforester]

I've done the equivalent of singing about catheters at a trade show, and it doesn't hurt my memories of playing music on German TV or soundchecking in the Fillmore Auditorium lounge while Leonard Cohen ate his fish.

[@EvadingCreation]

This is a thoughtful reply, Sonic Muse, and one that I 100% agree with. I think the turn to reality, where stardom is not attained and the mood is anticlimactic, is reflective of real life for most people. It highlights how our high points and successes are often bookended by rejection, loss, and disappointment. This turn in Guest's movies illustrates the cyclical ebb and flow of life, and that reality makes his movies all the more relatable and all the more funny. This core sadness anchors the characters as authentic people, the story as believable, and the humor as purposeful. We all have no choice but to laugh at this weird rollercoaster we call life, as well as, most importantly, ourselves.

[@mikearchibald744]

I think thats why it says ' complicated cruelty'. Now, if ONE Guest movie was like that, I'd agree,but when ALL Chris Guest movies are like that.... You REALLY don't think there are untalented people in HOllywood? Or in music? What cheesed me off about A Mighty Wind was going out of the way to make all the music Apolitical. When folk music is MOSTLY political.

[@oaf-77]

Life is cruel. Pointing out that cruelty isn’t itself cruel. There are few perfect moments of beauty or triumph in life, and there’s a certain atrocity to trying to artificially stretch those moments beyond their natural ending points and the consequences are never good. To me that’s the meaning of the 6 Months Later.

[@kimsikoryak3830]

From my perspective, Guest's work is neither cruel nor celebratory. He is just a master at displaying the limitless absurdity of human pretension. We're all clowns pretending we're heroes because--well, that's what people do in order to survive living with themselves. At least for me, he succeeds brilliantly. I suspect lots of others feel the same way.

[@kathymyers7279]

“We’re all clowns pretending we’re hero’s because--that’s what people do in order to survive living with themselves.” ❤this. (we , do.)

[@stevenjustice105]

Guest has publicly said he likes to make fun of people who take themselves to seriously....I have a feeling he would have a field day with you.

[@SaintVodou]

I can only Like your post once, but it deserves a few thousand hits

[@Fhita1962]

Kerplammo! Direct hit! You sunk that quasi-woke battleship!

[@discman15]

@@Fhita1962 you ever notice that "woke" has lost all meaning now? It seems to just mean "stuff I don't like"

[@Fhita1962]

@@discman15 No, it still means partisan liberals with agendas, but it sounded clever.

[@genki2genki]

Is Steven Justice really Guests's mommy?

[@GabrielKerr]

I swear that the portrayal of the townspeople in Waiting For Guffman is exactly like the people in the town I grew up in. Having worked for our local farmers market for 3 years, the characters and their eccentricities are so on point that it’s genius. There’s this particular level of self involvement, ego, and panache. Mixed with masked insecurity and brashness that Guest simply and perfectly nails in the most hilarious way. It’s the ultimate “If you know you know.”

[@LoriNeuro]

I don't think the characters in any of the films are contemptible or pathetic. Honestly...that's just how people are and I've always appreciated that about those films.

[@comet206]

this guy is an absolute nutbar. he's one of those ultra virtue signaling psycho's who thinks everything is transphobic, or has some sinical undertones. ya know, cuz patriarchy. lol. i can only imagine what he thinks is actually funny

[@Darren_McGovern-ROF]

Well, I agree , but they are all sort of pathetic. That’s part of the humor. We see ourselves in some of them.

[@Landrew0]

No, it wouldn't be nice to see some of these losers win once in awhile. That would deflate the comedic value of it. No one would have wanted the Three Stooges to get older and wiser.

[@tdbourneproductions8220]

Real life is cruel and anti-climactic. Some of us reach that climax of some event - whether it's a relationship, job, theatrical production, finishing a book, being on tv, winning a game show, etc. But many lives do not continue in that glittery limelight. Life goes back to how it was before. That's the key.

[@oceanhikes5261]

You completely miss the point of his improv movies. I love how he gives his actors reign over their roles. It’s more real life. I can tell you this, I went to a dog show with a friend of mine years ago, and was cracking up inside because the characters in the movie get it right!

[@whiplasher8]

Agree completely. Have not been able to watch a televised dog show since seeing Best in Show . Every comment made makes me think of Fred Willard

[@TheEWFX29]

Or are you equating things from the movie and interpreting them in the comedic portrayal of the movie instead of the earnestness of the person intentions? Satire is a strange thing. It gives those who oppose a fake weapon to use against those who do like said subject. Satire can entertain and it can also distort reality in a way that sometimes diminishes the subject in ways no one expects.

[@BruceRichardsonMusic]

I used to do a gig in NYC that ran concurrently with the dog show, and I actually stayed in the same hotel used in the movie (which is across the street from MSG). The dog show folks did indeed stay in that hotel, and more often than not I'd ride in elevators with them. It was one of the most surreal situations one could imagine.

[@Darren_McGovern-ROF]

@@TheEWFX29weapons!? Simmer down now. Do you not see yourself in any of these characters? And if you do, does it really make you feel worse to recognize some of your own foolishness? Isn’t that a good thing? Why must you white knight everyone, isn’t that condescending?

[@TheEWFX29]

@@Darren_McGovern-ROF Obviously reading isn't one of your strengths. But judging by your writings you are of the average intelligence, follow along group that only will do what he sees others do. I'll speak to you in your native language. Baaa-baaaaaa. Baaaaaaaaa

[@gr-8166]

I don’t get the transphobia thing. It’s just a funny sight at the time to see someone you least expect to become a woman… if this is a negative then the great bit in Monty Python about Loretta in Life of Brian must be an uncomfortable cruel and inhumane thought.

[@judithfaze]

"I want to be called Loretta." I rewound my VHS tape hundreds of times for that dialogue. As for The Mighty Wind, the running joke was a slow build with Harry Shearer hiding and denying and panicking and anxious, so that in his final trans reveal there was a true sense of delight in the theatre I watched it in. It was literally the OPPOSITE of transphobia. Granted, it was L.A., but calling that character arc transphobic is, in my mind, "problematic."

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Christopher Guest and Jamie lee Curis actually have a child who is transitioning.

[@gr-8166]

@@TheKitchenerLeslie I’m aware. Especially when Jamie made it public after her award win.

[@gr-8166]

@@opalescentmica so you need a trans actor in a year when the most likely place to find one would be John Waters underground cinema? You realize men have been playing pets of women in theater plays as early as Ancient Greece, Roman officials didn’t like them at their time, yet it was common place to make themselves play a part of the opposite sex. It’s the same way here but playing it off as a modern skit, the character had insecurities from the moment he opened his mouth. We notice the whole experience play out, the rest of the Folksmen felt off about it but it didn’t matter to them. Nothing about that is hating trans people, especially when that ending is just showing everyone as losers, which is what the original video also enforces… It’s a joke that isn’t in malice. Guest’s child is trans as well.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

@@gr-8166 It's called Virtue Signaling... all soulless people do it so you won't catch on to their lack of concern for other humans... sociopaths.

[@robstimson4234]

l love CG's characters, including the ones he plays. l think he loves them too, and loves the ensemble of actors that recur in his movies. Story lines may follow a Kafka-esque trajectory but l don't think they're cruel.

[@paulthew2]

Best in Show is outstanding. The quality of acting, characters and storyline is equally matched by the comedy and satire. The humanity of the characters is obvious; everyone has their own story. I think most of the characters in his movies are doing what they love, regardless of their limited ability and lack of any real success. That's not bleak, that's how life should be lived - do what you love doing.

[@brettsteele7027]

Transphobia? THIS was a waste of time, unlike any of Guests movies.

[@The_ScapeGoat]

I'm glad to see so many comments respectfully explaining that comedy is comedy. It is scary how the education system, in an attempt to make people more empathic, has made them pathological. There's no way to argue against being empathetic without sounding like you are advocating for capricious malevolence. The uncomfortable truth that has been buried is that people are ridiculous and ridiculous things deserve to be ridiculed. Comedy makes us all humble and breaks down superficial barriers. You aren't doing anyone any favors by suggesting that it's rude to laugh at people, let alone fictional characters. Get a grip, sir.

[@judithfaze]

Here, here! Or, rather, Hear, hear! Or is it, Hear, Here? Guess they all work, really. Well said. Er, written.

[@MrSimondaniel3]

mostly agreed, except I don't think it's the education system. At least, in America, they don't really teach empathy. certain teachers might, but for the most part, kids are laughed at & ridiculed all the time, without a word from teachers - let alone a reprimand. & if you're talking about things like participation trophies, imo those aren't life changing or very impactful.

[@medmar76]

I think Guest shows the realism of following your dreams; that not everyone hits the big time or gets fame and fortune, but they still follow their dreams and hold onto their optimism in spite of it. Not every crowd is going to totally dig you, and not every role you get is a "dream gig", but Guest shows the characters taking the bad with the good and moving forward.

[@Darren_McGovern-ROF]

And guess what? Some of them are delusional and not happy, so what? That’s human.

[@jayvoorhies92]

I really disagree, especially for Best in Show.. I think it all ended with the characters living their best life and achieving personal goals. Of course we’re literally making fun of them because they’re completely ridiculous people who deserve to be made fun of equally but I don’t think that makes for a bad, depressing ending-pessimistic maybe from your perspective, but it’s ungilded reality and I love it. I totally feel the achievement in these characters’ small quests for spotlight.

[@LB-gz3ke]

Yep, I agree about Best in Show. I just watched again and I do not see unhappy people at the end. The narrator here is projecting what he sees in these people. To him, Harlan Pepper looks pathetic, but Harlan is happy. He thinks he is doing great. Who are we to tell him otherwise? The only person that gets an undeserved and unpleasant come down is Jerry. His stupid terrier music is not stupid or unsuccessful to him. He and Cookie are riding on the waves of glory being big heroes in their little town. The last slap in the face from an ex in the sound booth was cruel, but we see no sign of Cookie actually cheating on him or threatening to do so. At least their relationship seems pretty solid. How many people can even claim that anymore?

[@neaituppi7306]

I couldn't even finish watching this, it seemed cruel. Which most movie criticism is, and is largely useless. It second guesses people's motivations and the work they put into an form of art.

[@Brodie--lw6eb]

These movies are brilliant, all of them are in my top 10. Waiting for the next one…

[@jabbermocky4520]

Guest permits a lot of improvisation from his actors. With people like Levy, O'Hara, Coolidge, McKean, Posie, the late Fred Willard and very alive Harry Shearer in his stable, Guest can pretty much let the players reel. I don't see any snobbery in Guest's work. I see the lampooning of snobbery and self-entitlement.

[@jamesdunlop3220]

Extremely funny and poignant and I'm so happy they were made. I don't think the narrator is. I think these stories expose a sad desperation that's in a lot of us which I found cathartic. Maybe that's something that might put some people off but not me.

[@theholeminute]

I think you may be a real life person of one of these characters. I'm sorry.

[@Ben_Rothenburg_]

You probably are too. The point of his films isn't to mock or make fun of eccentric people. I always saw them as a slightly cartoonish version real people. Everybody has some type of delusion or passion they get caught in, I feel like his films kinda celebrate that to a certain extent. Like, he has an admiration for his characters and the fact the go so outside the box, because we all secretly want to do that to an extent.

[@tangogrrl]

BRavo

[@a.KniteOwl]

You are soooooo blind man. The "6 months later" parts are a type of reality you may be scared of, but it really is like the afterglow of a climactic event. It's more of a celebration of the continuation of life, the humility in it. Think like the end of O Brother Where Art Thou, Everett gets the wrong ring for Penny as the kids trail behind them singing. That's the comedy of life. It's not a disrespectful tragedy that someone works at Dairy Queen, or that Gerry and Cookie end up singing songs in a studio. You're missing the point if you think this reality is cruel just because it's not amazing.

[@judithfaze]

Again, very well put.

[@EricGlassMusic]

A little dark? Yes. It's dark comedy. The endings certainly are. But that seems to be entirely missed on you.

[@ccmjj9770]

I couldn’t agree more. He has absolutely no concept of dark comedy.

[@andrewreed1912]

"cruel." you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means

[@camerontremblay-adams9640]

Yes all of these fictional caricatures are heartbroken about Guest punching down upon them

[@CyberChunk77]

This is hilariously off-base. You don't understand the difference between satire/sarcasm and belittling/bullying.

[@brucebowman9087]

I'm thankful that Guest uses almost the same ensemble every time. Otherwise I'd be taken in every time. As for the cruelty, well the truth hurts. The outcome of the vast vast (can't make it big enough!) majority of entertainer wannabes' careers is consignment to some backwater gig or complete failure and a fallback to restaurant worker/office drone. Life is cruel, largely.

[@michaelgoss826]

Guest's movies are Genius. Imagine your family in a movie.

[@missymissy4346]

Agreed, Guest is brilliant. The end.

[@KCFlyer2]

If "Transphobia" as an issue in his movies , you should do a review of Milton Berle.

[@curtisunit]

Sorry, you can go back to sleep. We’ll talk quietly amongst ourselves.

[@daflotsam]

Good grief. Was the writer of this video completely bullied all his life, or has he been locked in a room for five years forced to watch Hallmark Christmas movies 24/7 with a Clockwork Orange reaction to any movie that doesn’t have a over sugared ending? Guest ends his movies with realism, but still the characters holding strong to their ambitions. A rather inspiring step of riding the waves of highs and lows, but still chasing the dream. Why does this narrator need more? As well, characters, particularly comedy characters, need to be exaggerations of who they represent; otherwise they just wouldn’t be all that funny. Lastly, it’s interesting that you have no issues with the homosexual characters, yet you do with the trans character. It goes to show that you really have no set discipline on your judgement. My hope is that this jilted view of comedy in general will pass and not affect too many young comedy writers and actors from pursuing a strong path in their craft.

[@foxo4992]

He is commenting on the unwitting absurdity of the whole of our species, with great poignancy, hilarity and nuance. And compassion.

[@johnbaker8625]

I recall someone commenting about two of the great spiritual leaders of modern times and how they related to each other. "They both had a keen appreciation of the ultimate absurdity of life."

[@larsrodbok1285]

Review is drier than the credits on a 50s education film. Ugg.

[@Chumley73]

Wow! I can't believe I sat through 17 minutes to find out you TOTALLY missed the mark! Guest is a man who loves this country and her people, he is warning us about the idolatry of stars and stardom. Either that or he's the ultimate nihilist.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

I don't think he loves this country. Most Democrats don't and that's why they want to destroy everything that makes it great. His wife is pure garbage who hangs pedo pictures on her walls and they have a "trans kid" and they are actual royalty in England -- he is a Baron and she is a Lady, look it up. they think they're better than you.

[@finch2213]

Well he did invent and subject Westley to “the Machine”. And he turned it all the way up to 100, which is 90 more than 10.

[@johngoldsworthy7135]

It’s obvious he loves the characters. He’s not a nihilist. He’s someone aware of how ludicrous contemporary modern culture is

[@oldnerdreviews]

I guess I just like being entertained and these films are great at doing that. The end. I'm just a simple, old guy. I'm so old, I remember when people didn't have to analyze everything.

[@jammerdoc1]

Ugh. Is this your Senior thesis for drama 404? Jeez. Stick to “It’s a wonderful life.” Capra may give you what you’re looking for. Christopher Guest’s movies are hilarious - enjoyable and a masterclass on the art of comedic satire and character development - Something for everyone. I don’t understand your dour assessment??!!!

[@jeffyork6687]

This review sounds like the worst NPR music or film review I have ever heard. Guest's films are funny as hell. There is no cruelty. Its parody.Its comedy. Its funny.

[@fdsfsdfsd1552]

And what's wrong with cruelty in comedy? I'm not saying it's a necessary ingredient, but it's certainly one of the central ingredients.

[@jonathanzuckerman520]

My favorite character, if I have to pick just one is Mitch. I don’t know if he has dementia or he’s stoned.

[@elihudson6904]

Is this video a mockumentary of an amateur independent film analyst? If so, well done!

[@timothymcnamara1631]

It's comedy and yes there's a hint of sadness in his movies but it's not cruelty or maliciousness, not everybody wins in life (including people who achieve great success - We all eventually have some suffereing)....The movies are hilarious and your video commentary is unnecessary and seems like you have an axe to grind. Why not write your own script?

[@NEpatriots88]

Tragedy is comedy. He’s not making Disney movies, not everyone needs a happy ending.

[@robertedwards3551]

That's life. What's missing from the critique is the reality that pursuing your dream, touching fame, nearly getting there is worthy of praise anyway and I think Christopher Guest gets this.

[@eileenhetherington3704]

Wow. You really don't get it, do you? He portrays characters who delusionally chase fame, as if it is a worthy goal. He highlights the desperate self-centeredness of such aspirations. He is not distancing himself from them. He plays them himself. There is no cruelty here. Our culture has made fame into an ultimate win. His movies illustrate the emptiness of such pursuits. His characters sometimes win, then they return to their lives. This isn't cruelty either. It is the way of the world. Guest loves his characters, loves what he does and doesn't read reviews nor does he seek fame or awards for his efforts. He is a storyteller and his stories have a message: Stop chasing after validation outside of yourself, It is a hollow victory.

[@whahappened8398]

Perhaps the greatest example of 'overthinking' ever strung together. I'd hate to go on a 1st date with the narrator.

[@Mike-ki6rg]

Guest Genius Same word Thank You Mr Guest, please treat us some more. PLEASE 🥺

[@LCapparella]

Your lack of observance of comedic genius and overly analytical analysis of this great comedic actor...Geez, it's COMEDY, and it's GREAT!. If you need to examine it to this extent you have indeed missed the point.

[@stevehoog914]

Holy shit, sometime actually took 20 minutes to admit he's butt hurt by a few movies. What a maroon.

[@Jeff-bz6jp]

Maybe you're over analyzing.

[@mtroy0620]

I feel sorry for people with no sense of humor and yet I wish them away from the rest of us.

[@rah62]

The sound you hear is that of Christopher Guest's movies whizzing over the head of this doof.

[@judithfaze]

Now, now, no need to be rude. I think it's the birthdate: the younger they are, the less they can CONTEXTUALIZE comedy from the past. Sad that most of the best comedy seems to be from there, but that's just one commenter's opinion. He spent a lot of time on this; it's beautifully edited and well-written. It's just… well…. *wrong.*

[@robsmusic256]

This critique has been brought to you by the generation where everybody wins.

[@julietteyork6293]

Spot on

[@dancewomyn1]

Punching down!!!? Seriously!? It is so unfortunate that we've come to this in the 21st century. Guests films are brilliant, in every way starting with Spinal Tap, right up to his very last mockumentary!! Language is so deeply policed now, that the newer more linguistically surveilling youth (not all happily) are going through all the old stuff with a fine toothed comb checking for .....What!? And why??

[@backseatprods]

You are creating a premise that doesn’t exist. I’ve never heard anyone accuse Guest as being cruel. In fact it’s quite simply perhaps your misunderstanding of ‘parody’ that is the real topic of this video you’ve shared.

[@lambs8355]

I don’t disagree with your comments on transphobia or Mascots, but otherwise I feel like you largely miss the point? I don’t think that A Mighty Wind is his best film, though it feels to have the most satisfyingly Hollywood story arcs, namely the big group song at the climax of the show. But your frustration with the resolution of the Mitch and Mickey subplot feels to be telling of your Hollywood-biased priorities; this movie is not a romcom & you seem to be frustrated with the lack of romcom ending? His movies are ultimately sloppy depictions of real life, and that is innately not satisfying in a Hollywood narrative sense, and a lot of your criticisms feel to be rooted in frustrations around that.

[@CalTxDude]

The interactions come up the conversations and the emotions are real because that group of AMAZINGLY talented beings are actually great friends. He's not cruel, he's not Trying to be sarnic And witty... He's a realist. Think of how rod serling illuminated stories of the human condition. Christopher guest does the same thing...only with a different rhythm. I've seen so many interviewers go completely off the rails because they think they figured out exactly who I've seen so many interviewers go completely off the rails because they think they figured out exactly who Guest is.... The 1st mistake is thinking you've got him figured out. I appreciate the perspective... But look a little deeper in the subtext... and in your interpretations.

[@stevenangel8235]

And also did you seriously interpret the ending of spinal tap as dower?!

[@panda367]

So glad you did a Christopher Guest video! Interestingly, according to TVTropes (I couldn't find a citation elsewhere, so take this with a grain of salt), Mitch was originally going to end up back at the mental institution in the epilogue of A Mighty Wind, but Guest thought it was too sad. So apparently he *does* know when he's gone too far.....to a point, I guess. I totally agree with Guest's movies being "quarantine comfort food", too- I've been watching clips from Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind constantly lately. Though not in the movie, "When You're Next To Me" is just the sweetest song, and if you told me it was a real 60's folk song, I'd believe it.

[@TooManyTapes]

I get genuinely emotional at the final Kiss at the End of the Rainbow scene. It's gorgeous and heartbreaking/heartwarming. Levy and O'Hara have perfect chemistry, and I'm glad they've worked together so much over the years.

[@johndean4727]

@@TooManyTapes For Your Consideration is second best to Guffman.

[@DebNKY]

These characters are completely loveable. I mean, really, I love them all. There's no mean spirit here.

[@darrenelong]

God what tiresome psuedo-intellectualism. A young woke millennial working very very hard to find outrage and cynicism in comedy. I'm left of center, but really tiring of this kind of PC review of art. There's a reason comedians don't play college campuses anymore because millennials find offense in every joke, and really have lost the meaning of comedy. Comedy is based in tragedy, based in mockery, based in self-deprecation -- we need to be able to laugh at our world and ourselves. Calling Guest's comedy cruel because it doesn't uplift the human spirit at the very end misses the whole point, and shows the ignorance of this reviewer. He doesn't understand that guest is panning the human experience in general. These are real people -- not storybook heroes...

[@julietteyork6293]

Well said

[@justinolson7672]

Is this some sort of project for school?

[@markburnham7512]

In today's world, being successful is reason enough to be attacked. No surprise here.

[@hangblague]

It's the same humour as Cervantes (Don Quixote).

[@evegasse6999]

Maybe you don't find his movie endings "narratively satisfying" but plenty of people do and you said it yourself, it wouldn't be funny if the characters "won" at the end. He's making comedies. (My favourite Guest character is Harland Pepper)

[@jontwest]

This review is in places intelligent and thoughtful, so I'm curious as to why you would deliberately misrepresent the end of 'This is Spinal Tap' as a downer, when of course the movie ends in triumph, as Japanese fans go crazy for Tap, and their career takes off again. As a mistake in your review, I wouldn't care. But you surely did it deliberately, right - to suit your thesis? If it was a genuine mistake, no worries. The reason though that I had to give this a thumbs-down, is your misrepresenting the coda for the career of 'The Folksmen' as "transphobia". It's the opposite, with the trans character not being fired from the group, nor told to continue dressing as a man. Instead he's shown incredible, painful, loyalty, & allowed to don wig, makeup & skirt etc, while still singing the bass parts - turning the group into a laughing-stock, and ruining their chances at better-paying gigs. Now that's heart-warming (and very funny) - if not likely in real life. What would you have had the group do?

[@sadakichihartmann1827]

You're actually like one of his characters.

[@IZZY_EDIBLE]

Christopher Guest's dark notes are his genius.

[@cardenio66]

I don't entirely agree, but I found this to be a finely measured and nuanced argument. To me Guest's forte has always been satirizing provincialism.

[@nicholasbogosian5420]

"backyard, front yard, or the park, we're doing it till it gets dark, oooooh, after a while, we're doing it, terrier style, BOW WOW!"

[@nathanvargo4642]

Wow i hate video essays

[@t.mitchellb2766]

Just look at the majority of KZbin content creators and you'll see these movies playing out in front of you. It's ironic that this person can't see that. Guests movies are a study normal people, because none of us are completely honest with ourselves. Seeing this comedy as punching down shows that one is not mature enough to tackle the topics they are attempting.

[@judithfaze]

DAMN you commenters are smart! And it's NOT just cuz you agree with me, "lol." I'm willing to bet that those of us who feel this talented KZbinr is just plain WRONG and misses many of the jokes of EVERY CG movie are probably at least 2 decades his senior.

[@t.mitchellb2766]

@@judithfaze Is there a problem with people two decades his senior? You say that as if it's an insult.

[@judithfaze]

@@t.mitchellb2766 No, my point was missed, but I'm pretty bad at this. I'm probably 4 decades his senior; I was trying to say that context eludes him and other younguns, and the need to right perceived wrongs supersedes everything, and that's, of course, a comedy killer.

[@t.mitchellb2766]

@@judithfaze Oh, okay! I misunderstood you, lol. My apologies. In that case, I agree. And I am probably 3 decades older. Happy holidays!

[@judithfaze]

@@t.mitchellb2766 and Jingle Balls to you too, Friend.😜

[@pimpsonliveu8889]

I loved this video and really agree but I think a lot of the purpose of his 6 month after endings were less to depress and more to give a special feeling. To me its similar to things that give me melancholy. its like he's saying that nothing really changes we just move forward, the characters with flaws don't change their ways and fix themselves as people, they just move to the next part of their life and I feel that can be so true to reality its sad the fact we don't really change in certain ways but also reminds us that we don't want to end up becoming the famous stars that's personalities we see on tv every day. we really just want to do our own thing

[@edp3202]

It's very Waiting for Godot. Life is purposeless.

[@domdecosa]

The ending of A Mightly Wind is hilarious. You have no sense of humor.

[@truthseeker9117]

Give me a break...

[@BillyAlabama]

You don’t realize that you are a stellar being in the wonderful world of Christopher Guest. You’re unhappy wherever you are and make sure those around you as well. Use juxtapose less.

[@theduderinok2]

Have you taken a look at the world we live in? 🤔

[@RhiWJ]

I disagree. I think "happily ever after after" is a lie sold to us from infancy and throughout our lives. If you achieve that goal.....get that job, make lots of money, lose that weight, win that competition, become famous, meet that special someone or whatever it might be.....then the rest of your life will be happy. All your problems will be solved and you'll live a long and fulfilled life. However, that's rarely the case. That's not to say you shouldn't have goals or never try, but more that if you work on being a happy and contented person first, then the goals don't become the "happily ever after" lie we're so often promised. The people in Guest's movies often have problems that are evident, and some that are hinted at. The beauty of the "months later" is that some characters are happy with their lot in life, some are still dealing with their issues and, some will always have them. And they'll all look back at their triumph in different ways. Perhaps pride and joy, or maybe resentment and yearning. Life is not a "kiss at the end of a rainbow". It's a series of ups and downs until we shuffle off this mortal realm and we need to find the ups wherever we can. Most of us won't hit the dizzying heights of success we dream about, or we're convinced we need to reach by so many things every single day. Even if we do, it probably won't fix all of our problems as we hope against hope it will. Being a "happy" person doesn't stop ambition and dreaming either though. However, it does mean we're working towards our goals for the right reasons, rather than to just fix or complete us #mytwocents SIDENOTE - I do agree that making the bass player in A Mighty Wind trans wasn't a great choice, but my point above still applies. She's happy 🤷🏻‍♀️. However, it's one of many bad "punchlines" that should never have existed 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@dwielhouwer]

Transfobia…..please. Guest has the guts to display what 95% of what the world thinks. Guest has an eccentric sense of humor and he is a master filmmaker, a one of a kind

[@SeeBrake]

Oh man, anyone who sees these films as cruel needs to just avoid films altogether. JFC, insane how much people go out of their way to get offended. Yikes.

[@SeeBrake]

Why is this labeled "Transphobia"? His daughter is trans.

[@jessekelly5627]

I wish you could just enjoy things.

[@jeffreymorris6756]

What total and complete bullshit.

[@anthonyscully2998]

Yes he is laughing at his characters but he also likes his characters

[@dannytoeman]

Bit of a misrepresentation of the end of Spinal Tap; they finish with a successful reunion tour in Japan

[@divajood]

Thanks for a thoughtful critique of Christopher Guest’s films. I disagree with your thesis of cruelty; I see the endings of the films as tragicomedy. Yes, most of the characters who live in his films show profound desperation but at some point, don’t we all? There’s love in the crafting of the characters. They’re the awkward, self delusional, hopeful, confused fish out of water. They have aspirations beyond their abilities. I also believe the characters shine a mirror back to us because they are extreme versions of us. Your comments about the films prior to the denouement are insightful and I agree with much of what you said. I disagree with your assessment of those endings as cruel. Narratively unsatisfying, perhaps. But not cruel. Thank you for a provocative discussion.

[@marioncrane09]

....lol @ critiquing Christopher Guest....wishing this critic would produce and distribute his own special art and vision.......guessing there isn't any......

[@host_theghost507]

My late mother loved dog shows and she adored "Best in Show." I grew up in community theatre and I swear there is a Corky St. Clair and a Ron & Sheila in every town in America. There's honesty in his movies, and some of it is deeply uncomfortable, but much of it is based in empathy. We recognize ourselves in the mirror he shows us. I do agree that the "six months later" epilogues veer into disdain, and it's the least fun part of these movies. Satire becomes pointless if it punches down. There seems to be some implication that even if these people are happy, they shouldn't be, they're just kidding themselves. He once described his characters as people who are "almost good" at what they do, and that state of being almost-but-not-quite good enough is what makes them so painful to watch. You want these people to get what they want but you know they can't. It walks a fine line between empathy and cruelty, and unfortunately the last two-For Your Consideration and Mascots-really fell over the line. Which is why they're not funny and nobody wants to see them.

[@TooManyTapes]

I try not to respond to a lot of the comments on this video (they veer into either hateful bigots or people who refuse to think critically about comedy or any media they experience), so I mean it when I say thank you for taking the time to consider my point and for having a thoughtful reaction to it. It was nice to read, and I appreciate you watching my videos.

[@comet206]

@@TooManyTapes dear lord lol. what do you consider to be a bigot? you are unbelievable

[@wojciechgac]

@@TooManyTapesI think you have a greatly miscalibrated notion of "hateful" and "bigot" and probably also find it hard to distinguish scorn from satire. If that's the way you feel about people disagreeing with you, perhaps you shouldn't have gone public with your observations in the first place.

[@fdsfsdfsd1552]

@@TooManyTapes - For someone who accuses others of refusing to think critically about comedy, you sure do seem to uncritically cling to the presupposition that cruelty can't ever be a valuable part of comedy.

[@towertone]

So...they can make fun of any type person in any type situation EXCEPT a trans.....got it!

[@rooseveltnut]

LOVE his movies. I sooo wish he had made more. No way I'm subscribing to your "Stuff"

[@J5L5M6]

I fear you lost the plot. Guest writes horror films.

[@musicformonsters]

hahahahahahaha

[@judithfaze]

He only got me once: the party scene in "For Your Consideration." Watching Parker Posey interact with Catherine O'Hara as she slowly realizes that this unrecognizable mega-plastic surgery monster was actually the actor she had worked with in the film was not only brilliant acting, but recognizably horrifying. I cringe-laughed all the way home.

[@KenShuey]

Way too over, analyzed and pedantic. We must laugh at ourselves and not take ourselves so seriously as this implies.😅

[@frances6940]

You are taking it all too seriously. His movies are comedies. Relax and enjoy the fun.

[@webstercat]

Lighten up & laugh…..

[@Donnies_lil_ding_ding]

Yes. It would be nice if they got to win once in a while. I’ve known a lot of people I wish had won. Many who chased their dreams and failed. I wish I’d won. Maybe we’re supposed to wonder what winning really is. Maybe what’s waiting for you at the top of that mountain is less valuable than a lot of the things you shot past on the way up there. Especially if you never actually reached the top. After all, nobody mines for gold at the summit.

[@joelmiller2539]

theatre kids (of all ages) see ourselves in "waiting for guffman." we feel seen, for all of the positives and negatives, by that movie. the movies are about dreamers who can't quite make it, and that's a pretty universal experience. maybe the movies would be cruel if they weren't so incredibly relatable; as they stand, i think there's a real celebration of those efforts we make to be extraordinary, even when we don't succeed.

[@cmcull987]

In one of Guest's films there is a segment where the two writer characters are being interviewed by someone who seems a lot like a real-life interviewer known for barely letting his guests getting a word in. The reactions of the guests is priceless.