Conference bookie::movies

1228.0. "Waiting for Guffman" by APLVEW::DEBRIAE (language by declaration) Thu Mar 20 1997 15:01

  I was a fan of Christopher Guest and the mockumentary _Spinal Tap_, so I
  decided to see this film on a day I was in the mood for a light comedy.

  It didn't disappoint, however extra emphasis should be stressed on the
  "light" in light comedy.  This is a very short film, but given the very
  limited material it is probably the correct length.  This effort didn't have
  anywhere near the thought or humour infused into it as _Spinal Tap_ had,
  either in its scenes, its dialogue, or (especially disappointing) its musical
  scores.  "Red, White and Blaine" (celebrating the 150th anniversary of
  Blaine, Mo.) could not stand on its own as a 'listenable' show recording (in
  the way the Spinal Tap songs from the 60's could be substituted for most any
  60's tune, '70s for '70s, etc).

  I expected more fun to be had with small town rural life and middle American
  theatre production values.  The film closely resembles something a real
  documentary of a local Middle America theatre production would unfold like,
  so most of the fun is nearly incidental (a few forced words like "ironical"
  is all you get).  It is nowhere near the fun that the cast of _Fargo_ had
  with the same subject for instance.  The funniest scene in the film (for me)
  involves one very lonely chicken wing, the absurdity of it cracked me up and
  it was probably the only time I laughed aloud.  The rest of the humour was
  very dry and deadpan and subtle.  The venue for Blaine's most famous potluck
  caught me offguard and coaxed a quiet chuckle from me too.

  The best role of the film, the one most fun to play, went to Christopher
  Guest as Corky St.  Clair.  It was humorous how all the townsfolk saw Corky
  purely as a "creative and artistic" type and never thought any further into
  his character.  Corky wasn't played up or played down or played offensively
  or played demeaningly, he just was who he was and Guest gets credit for
  pulling the character off so convincingly that the audience too just takes
  him as he is full value.  Eugene Levy was great as the tone-deaf and
  near-blind town dentist, he was perfect for the part (playing a familiar SCTV
  role for him).  Fred Willard and Catherine O'Hara were a bit forced as the
  local married travel agents who, "it's ironical," have never left town
  before.  [Corky St.  Clair refers to them as the performing "Lunts" of
  Blaine, which given their self-congratulating 'talent' level is a bit
  humorous].  Parker Posey was fun as the Dairy Queen worker (particularly in
  her "Teacher's Pet" audition), and Matt Keeslar played a believable "Johnny
  Savage" who seemed oddly enough the best stage performer despite his
  freshness to the stage.

  All in all it was an enjoyable hour and some odd minutes.  Not very memorable
  in its humour, but it passed time well and entertainingly enough.  Its humour
  ran along the lines of a 'slow' Bob Newhart show (deadpan and dry) so keep
  your expectations low.  I wouldn't rate this film highly for the effort made
  here however, it just wasn't there, much more could have been done with the
  same premise.  This would also be a horrible date film, especially if it
  happened to be your pick.  I think this film will be too deadpan for most
  people, but your review may vary....

  -Erik