Cast: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Bob Balaban, Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Larry Miller, Fred Willard
Director: Christopher Guest
Producer: Karen Murphy
Screenplay: Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy
Cinematography: Arlene Donnelly Nelson
Music: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer
U.S. Distributor: United Artists
When it comes to mockumentary parodies, no one does it better than Christopher Guest. This Is Spinal Tap, which he co-wrote (but did not direct – that duty went to Rob Reiner), is a true classic – a scathing look at heavy metal bands that has often been imitated, but never equaled. Waiting for Guffman does for small-town theater what Spinal Tap does for rock and roll. And Best in Show proves that it's possible to produce a movie about dog shows that is laugh-aloud funny yet still strangely affectionate. Now, with A Mighty Wind, Guest adds a fourth satire to his resume. And, while this movie is not as incisive or hilarious as its predecessors, it's still worth a trip to the theaters for anyone who appreciates good humor.
The topic this time around is folk music – a genre that reached its zenith of popularity during the late '60s. Like Western movies, however, it has become something of a relic. Occasionally, some aging star will come out with a new album, but, for the most part, folk music went out of vogue long before vinyl ceased to be the medium of choice for music-lovers. Of course, there's still a limited audience for this sort of music, but Guest's movie is no more aimed at them than Best in Show is targeted at dog show participants. The comedy here is pretty universal. You don't have to like folk music to appreciate A Mighty Wind.
The film is a fake documentary that chronicles a reunion concert featuring three once-popular folk music bands. Organized as a tribute to recently deceased music producer Irving Steinbloom by his son (Bob Balaban), the concert is headlined by three of acts from the '60s: The Folksmen, a trio (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer) whose lone hit is more than thirty years old; The New Main Street Singers, a "neuftette" of nine whose image is pure Pat Boone even though one of their members (Jane Lynch) is an ex-porn star; and Mitch & Mickey (Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara), fondly remembered but no longer America's sweethearts. The concert is to occur live at New York's Town Hall and be broadcast nationwide on Public Broadcasting (no doubt during a membership drive). Of course, not everything goes smoothly, although nothing goes Spinal Tap wrong. (I kept waiting for Mitch to get lost on the way to the stage.)
For the most part, the comedy in A Mighty Wind is more amusing than hilarious. The movie provokes a lot of smiles and chuckles, but few belly laughs. It's enjoyable, but not as memorable as Guest's other outings. Some of the movie's funniest sequences feature Fred Willard as a promoter who is so full of himself that he always has to be at the center of attention. Euguene Levy is delightful as the burned-out Mitch, who walks around in a daze. And it comes as a bit of a surprise to learn that some of the squeaky-clean Main Street Singers don't worship Jesus, but are "Witches of Nature's Colors." Guest's camera captures all of these things with unblinking, unflinching honesty. As was true of his previous films, that's a key to A Mighty Wind's success.
The folk music, like the heavy metal songs in This Is Spinal Tap, are both satirical and faithful to their inspiration. The lyrics poke gentle fun at the genre, but are not wildly over-the-top. Several are performed in whole or in part during the film's final 30 minutes, and they stand up well under the microscope. In fact, the entire "Mighty Wind" concert is exactly what one might reasonably expect from a PBS-aired "event" featuring a reunion of '60s folk groups. Eat your heart out, Peter, Paul, and Mary.
The majority of the major players in A Mighty Wind are Guest regulars – those who have appeared in one or more of his previous films. As the Folksmen, Spinal Tap companions Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer reunite. Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy, who have worked together since SCTV, are back for their third outing with the director. Bob Balaban is once again the "straight man," and Fred Willard is the most off-the-wall of the performers. And, despite not having much to do, Parker Posey has signed on again (she plays one of the New Main Street Singers).
Those with an appreciation of Guest's previous work – This Is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, and Best in Show – will likely enjoy A Mighty Wind. The movie probably isn't for those who define a comedy as a series of fart jokes and gross-out gags. However, although Guest rarely descends into the realm of low-brow humor, neither does he inhabit a plane of intellectual snobbery. A Mighty Wind is another affectionate parody – one that delights in gently poking fun at its subject rather than tearing it to pieces – with plenty of amusing moments and one-liners that vary from lily white to off-color. And, despite not being a laugh-a-minute riot, it's nevertheless one of the most consistent comedies to reach theaters thus far this year.
© 2003 James Berardinelli