Blaine, Missouri is the stool capital of the world...and also the sight of a UFO landing, the crater left behind is always 67 degrees with a 40% chance of rain. A town rich in history, with it's 150th anniversary approaching. The town leaders agree to let a "professional" director, Corky St. Clair (Guest) write a play depicting the history of the town as part of their anniversary, much to the chagrin of the music teacher Lloyd Miller (Bob Balaban) who tends to direct the school shows. Corky's vision clashes with Lloyd's, but somehow they manage to work together.
The cast includes travel agents Ron (Willard) and Sheila (O'Hara) Albertson who have starred in previous shows for Corky, Dairy Queen employee Libby (Posey) who has a crush on Corky, and dentist Dr. Allan Pearl (Levy) who enjoys making people laugh. Corky also gets Clifford Wooley (Arquette) to be the narrator and mechanic Johnny (Keeslar) to round out the cast.
While working on the play, they are told a New York producer named Guffman will be attending their production. Opening night Johnny quits, so Corky takes over.
The play chronicles Blaine's conception when a man named Blaine got a wagon train lost and they became a town...to the legendary stool given to the president...to the UFO landing.
The show itself is painfully funny (funny because it is painful), including the opening scene when Dr. Pearl doesn't wear his glasses (which are not from the period). While I prefer Best in Show and Spinal Tap (which he wrote and co-starred in), this film is a good introduction to Guest's style of filmmaking. It is also interesting to see Guest in a starring role, since in his other films he has smaller roles...I don't think anyone could pull it off better, although I do miss his Spinal Tap/Folksmen buddies, Harry Shearer and Michael McKean (who wrote the songs for the play). Funny, and worthwhile, although some of his other films stand the test of time better.
Waiting for Guffman (1996) 84 minutes
Rating: R for brief strong language.
Director: Christopher Guest
Starring: Christopher Guest as Corky St. Clair
Eugene Levy as Dr. Allan Pearl
Fred Willard as Ron Albertson
Catherine O'Hara as Sheila Albertson
Parker Posey as Libby Mae Brown
Linda Kash as Mrs. Allan Pearl
Lewis Arquette as Clifford Wooley
Matt Keeslar as Johnny Savage
The cast includes travel agents Ron (Willard) and Sheila (O'Hara) Albertson who have starred in previous shows for Corky, Dairy Queen employee Libby (Posey) who has a crush on Corky, and dentist Dr. Allan Pearl (Levy) who enjoys making people laugh. Corky also gets Clifford Wooley (Arquette) to be the narrator and mechanic Johnny (Keeslar) to round out the cast.
While working on the play, they are told a New York producer named Guffman will be attending their production. Opening night Johnny quits, so Corky takes over.
The play chronicles Blaine's conception when a man named Blaine got a wagon train lost and they became a town...to the legendary stool given to the president...to the UFO landing.
The show itself is painfully funny (funny because it is painful), including the opening scene when Dr. Pearl doesn't wear his glasses (which are not from the period). While I prefer Best in Show and Spinal Tap (which he wrote and co-starred in), this film is a good introduction to Guest's style of filmmaking. It is also interesting to see Guest in a starring role, since in his other films he has smaller roles...I don't think anyone could pull it off better, although I do miss his Spinal Tap/Folksmen buddies, Harry Shearer and Michael McKean (who wrote the songs for the play). Funny, and worthwhile, although some of his other films stand the test of time better.
Waiting for Guffman (1996) 84 minutes
Rating: R for brief strong language.
Director: Christopher Guest
Starring: Christopher Guest as Corky St. Clair
Eugene Levy as Dr. Allan Pearl
Fred Willard as Ron Albertson
Catherine O'Hara as Sheila Albertson
Parker Posey as Libby Mae Brown
Linda Kash as Mrs. Allan Pearl
Lewis Arquette as Clifford Wooley
Matt Keeslar as Johnny Savage
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