A Mighty Wind

Released 2003
Stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Bob Balaban, Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Larry Miller, Fred Willard
Directed by Christopher Guest

When it comes to mockumentary parodies, no one does it better than Christopher Guest. Now, with A Mighty Wind, Guest adds a fourth satire to his resume. 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.)

Summary by James Berardinelli

Christopher Guest's mockumentaries are getting kinder and gentler, but they're still funny. All of the characters are colorful and fun, but my favorite was Fred Willard's. That guy cracks me up. He was the funniest part of Best In Show, and, although he has a tiny role here, he steals the show again. Bob Balaban is also very funny as the horrible emcee who wants to make sure the microphone stands will have "tops" while worrying about pointy stems in the floral arrangement.  --Bill Alward, October 6, 2003