Waiting for Guffman (1997)

The gang's almost all here for Waiting for Guffman.

WHERE'S MCKEAN AND SHEARER?

Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer have cooked up plenty of laughs working together on faux documentaries such as This is Spinal Tap (Special Edition) and A Mighty Wind.

But McKean and Shearer do not appear on screen in this 1997 mockumentary. Instead, the pair helped Guest craft songs central to the film's plot. But many of the film's cast regularly appears in the trio's films including Don Lake, Paul Dooley and Lewis Arquette.

UNIQUE HISTORY, BIG DREAMS

The small town of Blaine, Missouri is celebrating its 150th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, Corky St. Clair (Guest) is tapped to direct Red, White and Blain, a musical marking the community's, uh, unique history.

Two major events in the community's supposed history, how Blain was founded and a major industry, are quite well-crafted. An alien visit isn't as funny, but is helped by the stage show song, Nothing Ever Happens on Mars. Who knew?

St. Clair isn't the most accomplished thespian, having worked "off, off, off, off Broadway" before coming to Blain. He considered a new career in construction, but the lure of theatre remains strong.

His chosen cast includes Dr. Allan Pearl (Eugene Levy), a dentist who wonders if he's wasted precious years filling cavities instead of cracking up audiences. His grandfather was big in Yiddish theatre. "I love breaking people up," he confides.

There's Ron and Sheila Anderson (Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara), operators of a travel agency who don't seem to travel much, and a Dairy Queen clerk Libby Mae Brown (Parker Posey) who may have spent too much time checking stock in the freezer.

GREAT WHITE WAY LOOMS

This crew harbours big dreams that are further fueled when they learn a talent scout from the Big Apple is headed their way. The cast and director dream of making the transition to the Great White Way.

Waiting for Guffman offers some big laughs in its short running time. Bob Balaban is solid as high school music teacher Lloyd Miller, a man just a little jealous St. Clair was chosen to helm the big show. Willard is a hoot as one vain community theatre actor hoping for major success in Hollywood. Levy's class clown recollections are also very funny.

Guest is sometimes over the top with his lispy portrayal of the gay St. Clair and his occasional hissy fits. But savour his dance moves, his take on theatre, experiences with interactive theatre and the My Dinner with Andre reference near the film's end.

What would have this film have been like if McKean and Shearer appeared on camera?

Rating: 7.5/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118111/

The Princess Bride part of director's reign

Oh, Rob Reiner. What went wrong?

You had a fantastic decade-long run as director starting with the brilliant mockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap, in 1984.

A string of great films followed including The Sure Thing (1985), Stand By Me (1986), When Harry Met Sally (1989) and ending with The American President (1995). You keep making films (The Story of Us, Alex and Emma), but the buzz pretty much disappeared. Where did that extra something that made your early efforts so good go?

The Princess Bride, released in 1987, was part of his admirable string of hits.

Watching it again 23 years after its original release, this fairy tale with a wry twist resembles more a series of set pieces than a free-flowing film. That's still OK. There's enough here for a fun night's viewing.

Westley (Cary Elwes) and Buttercup (Robin Wright) fall in love. Tragedy supposedly claims Westley. Years pass.

Buttercup ends up with Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). The last syllable of the surname is fitting. We never really learn why she ends up as his potential much-better half.

The bad prince is more interested in starting his plans for world domination than providing Buttercup with a loving home. He has more dastardly schemes that will make her reign a very, very short one.

Westley returns. He encounters ne'er-do-wells Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), Fezzik (Andre the Giant) and Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin). Challenges ensue with a constant stream of witty banter exchanged. Not all of it works, but when it does there's some big laughs to enjoy.

Westley reunites with Buttercup. Prince Humperdinck wants him dead. Watch for a very effective, and surprisingly good, turn by Christopher Guest as the prince's henchman, Count Rugen. His cool, calm delivery as he does numerous nasty deeds is a treat. He even gets a big laugh near the film's climax.

The Princess Bride introduced Wright in her first major acting role. Billy Crystal, who had a small role in Spinal Tap, shines brilliantly in a 'special appearance' as Miracle Max.

In a new documentary included with a DVD release, Crystal describes how he wanted his character to look like a cross between his grandmother and baseball legend Casey Stengel.

Carol Kane, as Max's wife Valerie, gets one of the film's best lines: "I'm not a witch. I'm your wife."

Shot in England and Ireland, The Princess Bride mostly passes for family fare except for some violence and some disturbingly large-sized rats. Oh, the numerous kisses Westley and Buttercup exchange may nauseate some younger male viewers.

Rob Reiner, please come back to the fun-filled movie-making kingdom. We miss you.

Rating: 7.5/10

The Princess Bride. 1987. 99 minutes. Director Rob Reiner. Starring: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, Fred Savage, Peter Falk, Robin Wright.