A Mighty Wind

With its gentle charm, A MIGHTY WIND strikes a fresh note, blending heartfelt moments with the familiar faces and playful humor that define Guest’s signature style.

Christopher Guest's masterpiece. You get the sense that while he's mocking elements of the folk music scene, he ultimately loves the genre and these characters. Everything with Mitch and Mickey is so perfect I can't help but get moved to tears.

Like all Guest's films, fresh, amusing, innovative, and just great.

That "Kiss At The End of the Rainbow" song? Pretty dammmm good.

There's something about Christopher Guest movies. Yes, they're funny. Yes, they're quirky. But there's more to it. The regular cast that populates his films are first-rate and they pull off the comedy so expertly. Whether it's this movie, Best in Show, This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, they are all recognizable as Christopher Guest movies. The one that's in a class by itself is Princess Bride. But, A Mighty Wind is certainly deserving of your time if you'd like a positive laugh.

Christopher Guest's A Mighty Wind doesn't have the same cutting satire as some of his other mockumentaries, sometimes coming across as more of a loving tribute to the folk scene of the early 1960s, but there is still plenty to like. When folk producer Irving Steinbloom passes away, his son Jonathan (Bob Balaban) decides to organize a tribute concert featuring acts that his father worked with, among them Mitch and Mickey (Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara). The dialogue, much of which feels improvised, is clever and insightful, the music is catchy and kitschy, and the cast, most of whom are Guest regulars, are excellent, notably Levy and O'Hara, as well as Jane Lynch as a former porn actress turned folk singer.

Haven't seen it in a while, but liked it when it was in theaters. Saw it on HBO, and it is a delight, just what I needed as a change from real-life heaviness. Simple, silly, sentimental, it sure looks like they had fun making it. I'm not a folk music historian, but they captured the era as far as this layman can tell. Nothing blew up, no one died, (almost) no one reached a turning point in their lives. A rootbeer float on a hot day.

Director Christopher Guest has the strangest ability to unite the most completely goofy comedy with a tender emotional heart that actually jerks a tear from my eye. Eugene Levy, however ridiculous of a caricature he may appear at times, engages the viewer through his own belief in his character that he suspends our disbelief and garners our full investment in him. I was moved, crying and laughing simultaneously, and having a great time all along.

I was always aware of Best in Show and This is Spinal Tap but somehow had never watched a Christopher Guest film until the other day. I definitely laughed more during BiS, but Mighty Wind was right there, and I will be watching the rest of his stuff in the near future I'm sure. Harry Shearer is probably my MVP here but there are so many worthy performances, and what makes this film so on point.

Pretty standard Christopher Guest fare (which isn't a bad thing). He has the same cast of actors from his other movies, and they are very funny as usual. I thought Fred Willard was a standout in his few scenes. Bob Balaban has more to do here and is great in his scenes with the theater manager. The songs are pretty spot on. If there's one weak spot, I felt like Eugene Levy's character was a little too out there for me. Otherwise this is quite enjoyable.