Waiting for Guffman -- What Makes This Movie Great? (Episode 122)

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Disclaimer: All reasonable comments are welcome, including reasoned disagreements. You will be banned for foolish talk, harassment, and hate speech on sight; it's a tremendous waste of life. I believe in freedom of association and, by extension, freedom of dissociation from you.

[@michaeloflannegen]

Everything. This movie is superb. Eugene Levy's audition as Dr Alan Pearl is genius. "Look out!!!!". 😂😂😂😂

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you

[@dinahkudatsky7299]

Every mockumentary done by Christopher Guest and company is a treasure. "Waiting For Guffman" happens to be my favorite - the little comic tidbits, like Corky St. Clair buying a pantsuit for his never-present wife Bonnie, and his "My Dinner with Andre" action figures at the end, have me rolling on the floor! I'm also glad to see a mention of "For Your Consideration" - I had a similar side-splitting response to the film-within-a-fim "Home for Purim", which mixed the least important Jewish holiday with a touch of Tennessee Williams and some borscht belt; it had me trying to hold myself together - totally "meshuggah"! Thanks for the reminders of all these filmic delights. I want to watch them all in a giant weekend binge!

[@jonhinson5701]

This is an unappreciated gem. As a gay man, I love the way Christopher Guest plays the character so well and with affection unlike many straight actors who play gay men as offensive and exaggerated stereotypes without the affection and as if they are trying to dissociate themselves with the role to the audience because they are terrified they will be seen as gay in life.

[@pretorious700]

I guess your comment is in no way "stereotyping" anyone either. "As a gay man", yes, we figured that out, Sparky.

[@n_n_n_n_n_n]

Love these early Christopher Guest mockumentaries, easily some of my favorite comedies.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, they still hold up for me.

[@JohnSmith-jz4pk]

a mighty wind is a masterpiece

[@smooches1368]

This is one of two of the funniest movies i've ever seen. I find it even funnier than Spinal Tap.

[@michaelpresberg3817]

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm from mid-Missouri so I look forward to watching this one big time. Just the couple clips had me laughing out loud.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

enjoy. it will seem like a documentary!

[@johnbarrett4846]

Corky makes an appearance in Mascots also by Guest.

[@lynverra-lay7581]

From Spinal Tap to For Your Consideration, these mockumentaries are all brilliant. I know that A Mighty Wind is not your favourite, Dr. Josh, but were you aware that The Folksman (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer) were the opening act for Spinal Tap when they toured? The audience would boo the folk trio not knowing that they were the same actors/musicians playing Spinal Tap.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

ah, thank you. didn't know that!

[@Whopsie12]

What the movies, which I interchangeably call the "Christopher Guest" movies or the "Guffman" movies, wound up having the most influence on was television, particularly the sit-com format. You mentioned " The Office" but there were/are so many more: 1. Parks and Recreation 2. Modern Family 3. Reno 911 4. Trailer Park Boys 5. What We Do In The Shadows When these movies started to catch on as much as they did, people in the industry suddenly-ish realized there was really something to this format and exploited the hell out of it to give us a practical who's who of the classic and most successful shows of the early 2k's to the present.

[@jayroberts2017]

Love all of the Christopher Guest movies of this format. In WFG, I always laugh when they cut to the orchestra and the trumpet player is playing timpani simultaneously. This is so funny and subtle. Parker Posey explaining her job description at Dairy Queen is hilarious too.

[@smoothALOE]

I went to an “unwigged” concert of the guys who originally played in Spinal Tap and it was one of the most entertaining shows I’ve ever seen. They included a few songs from the musical in this film and I was surprised at the number of audience members who were NOT familiar with that movie. However, it DID encourage them to go and watch it and I’m sure they all have by now.

[@MBAinternetmktg]

Classic small town. I grew up in a small town--a nearby small town still has their annual rooster crowing contest.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

do the roosters crow, or people imitate roosters?

[@LemonTree9280]

Being from small town Missouri...i feel this movie

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yep!

[@Whopsie12]

Having grown up in a small town in Illinois and doing a bit of community theatre in my day I can attest to how spot on the performers were in portraying these folks.

[@highoctaneadventure]

Thanks for this. This movie always made me wonder how exaggerated a picture of small town America it is. Definitely due for a rewatch. A Mighty Wind has actually grown on after a few rewatches and noticing of the nuances. The only one I haven’t seen is For Your Consideration.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome

[@Imalrightma]

Yes! also Wes Anderson's Rushmore has it's heart in the right place and is of course very very funny

[@LearningaboutMovies]

that's a good recommendation for those who like Guffman.

[@dogsareprecious4842]

Thanks for your review. I love ALL of these Christopher Guest movies !!!! And we didn't know back then that Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara would be SO brilliant in "Schitt's Creek!: ......P.S...(soo sad Fred Willard died! :-(

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome.

[@eraofthecapybara2884]

I would love to see you cover All That Jazz or Lenny. I’m certainly very biased because I adore these films. I just like to see others dive into what I love and see what they appreciate as well as what drawbacks they find in the works.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thanks, I will look into those. I have not seen Lenny. The "drawbacks" is intriguing, since most don't ask for that, but I have made a couple of videos like that on famous movies, which will be coming out in October. (The Shining is one.)

[@shreyasudarshan5060]

Wow thank you so much for analyzing this movie sir, found it really helpful. I have a request, I have some doubts and questions about Agnes Varda's movie Cleo from 5 to 7 it is a wonderful movie but if you could analyze it, maybe it will help me clear some of my doubts.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, I hope to get to Varda eventually.

[@gagwool6583]

Hi, great and entertaining video as always, can you try doing a review on A Clockwork Orange please? Thanks

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you. I am tempted to do so. Will have to rewatch, and whatever comes from that will be ... interesting.

[@beautifullion69]

ITA about wishing Christopher Guest had done more acting. The guy’s got range!