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TRASH IN MY EYE No. 106 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Running time: 84 minutes (1 hour, 24 minutes)
Rating: MPAA – R for brief strong language
DIRECTOR: Christopher Guest
WRITERS: Eugene Levy and Christopher Guest
PRODUCER: Karen Murphy
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Roberto Schaefer
EDITOR: Andy Blumenthal
COMPOSERS: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer
COMEDY
Starring: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Fred Willard, Bob Balaban, Parker Posey, Matt Keeslar, Lewis Arquette, Larry Miller, Michael Hitchcock, Paul Dooley, Brian Doyle-Murray, Linda Kash, and David Cross
The Canadian and American comedian, actress, and screenwriter, Catherine O'Hara, died Friday, January 30, 2026 at the age of 71. During her prolific 50-year career in film and television, O'Hara appeared in four mock-documentary films (known by the term, “mockumentaries”) directed by Christopher Guest. I have seen three of them: Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), and A Mighty Wind (2003). I wrote reviews for A Mighty Wind and Waiting for Guffman, but only the former is posted on my Negromancer blog. In memory of O'Hara, I am finally posting Waiting for Guffman.
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Waiting for Guffman is a 1996 American mockumentary comedy film from director Christopher Guest. The film's title is a reference to Samuel Beckett's play, Waiting for Godot (1952). The film focuses on an aspiring director and his marginally talented amateur cast who go overboard with their small-town musical production because a prominent Broadway figure will attend the opening night performance.
Waiting for Guffman is seen through the eyes of a documentary filmmaker (who never speaks nor is seen on camera). He records the activities in and around the town of Blaine, Missouri, the “Stool Capitol of the United States” (as in “foot stool”), as the citizens prepare for the town’s 150th birthday celebration.
The town council decides that the best way to celebrate is to top off the day of festivities with an original amateur stage production, entitled “Red, White and Blaine.” The council chooses a transplanted New Yorker, Corky St. Clair (Christopher Guest), to stage the production, but Corky has delusions of making “Red, White and Blaine” a grand production. The cast of his production includes some of the town’s wannabe performers, a collection of eccentrics with more desire than skill, and their lack of theatrical ability is obvious to everyone but them. However, the stakes for the production are raised even higher when a Broadway theatre critic, Mort Guffman, accepts Corky’s invitation to see the opening night of the show.
Waiting for Guffman was the first of Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries. A “mockocumentary” is a term used to describe mock or spoof documentaries. The most famous example of such a film is This is… Spinal Tap, of which Guest was a star and co-writer. Other examples include Bob Roberts, CB4, and Fear of a Black Hat. Whereas documentaries study or take not of real people, real events, and real life, mockumentaries take a look at fiction peoples, places, and things. Since Waiting for Guffman, Guest has directed two other well-received mockumentaries, Best in Show (2000) and A Mighty Wind (2003), and he has another, For Your Consideration, due Fall 2006 (as of this writing).
Waiting for Guffman is mildly entertaining, and is meant to spoof local theatre and the desire of small town folks to be in the spotlight. However, other than for a spot here and there, the characters aren’t nearly as interesting as real people. In fact, a real documentary about local and small town theaters would be much more interesting. Guest reportedly filmed over 60 hours of film from which he cut into an 84 minute movie, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find that some of the funniest (if not funniest) scenes and material were left out of the movie for the sake of time and the narrative. Almost all the dialogue is adlibbed, so what the film basically has topnotch sketch comedy actors misusing their talent to create comedy on the spur of the moment. I was surprised how unfunny or only slightly funny I found some of my favorite comic actors to be in this flick. I generally enjoy the work of actors and comedians: Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, and Catherine O’Hara, but, here, they come across as too flat to me.
What makes Guffman worth watching is Christopher Guest himself. He’s mesmerizing and hilarious in his portrayal of Corky St. Clair’s artistic pretensions and self-importance. Guest is deliciously sly in his droll delivery, and he makes us believe that Corky certainly takes himself seriously – all the time. As comedies go, it would be hard to forget Corky, and even if I did, I’d be instantly delighted once I’d encounter him again. Waiting for Guffman is certainly worth watching, especially for those who want something different in their comedies. It has moments of inspired brilliance, and the theatrical production, “Red, White and Blaine,” is a must-see.
6 of 10
B
★★★ out of 4 stars
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Re-edited: Saturday, January 31, 2026
The text is copyright © 2026 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
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