sol-
Organising a revival show for three 1960s folk music acts proves challenging for the son of a legendary concert promoter in this mockumentary from Eugene Levy and Christopher Guest. Much of the dialogue is memorable ("abuse in my family... mostly musical in nature") and the film is full of colourful characters, especially Fred Willard's stand-up comedian unaware of his own lameness. In fact, all concerned deliver energetically, and yet the film never coalesces into more than a series of rather random, offbeat episodes, none of which are especially funny. This is a rare comedy for which the audio commentary (by Levy and Guest) is actually funnier than the film itself as Guest keeps throwing in funny lines as "it was my idea to have him... talk" and as the pair discuss the detailed background stories they developed for each and every character (little of which made it into the final film). This perhaps highlights the film's biggest shortcoming: all of the characters are wonderfully imaginative, but the structure of the film never gives us a chance to get to know most of them and feel their anxiety/desire over a comeback. All that said and done, the film concludes on a strong note with a great eventual concert (and lots of memorable songs), but Guest's subsequent 'For Your Consideration' - and his debut 'The Big Picture' - provide a better indication of his talent.
g-bodyl
I haven't seen any of Christopher Guest's films prior to this film A Mighty Wind, but I've heard many good things about them. They seem to be mean-spirited, but often hilarious. After watching A Mighty Wind, I concluded that this film is less funny than I thought it would be (it still is funny), but how it wasn't mean and it treated it's subject with some respect. But as this is still a mockumentary, it still pokes fun at everything. There is also some good folk music to go along and there is actually good tunes worth listening to.Christopher Guest's film is about how after a longtime music producer passes away, three folk groups from the 1960's reunite to perform a concert to memorialize the man who got these bands famous.The acting is pretty good and it seems like the cast made their characters more personal, which added depth to the story. Christopher Guest does a good job as a member of the Folksmen as well as Michael McKean and Harry Shearer. Catherine O'Hara does a solid job as Mickey but Eugene Levy truly shines as Mitch and he reminds me of the aging rock star who is always high or on drugs. Finally, Fred Willard is hilarious as the manager of the Main Street singers especially when he goes out spurting his catchphrases.Overall, A Mighty Wind is a solid mockumentary that is mostly funny, but surprisingly heart-warming. It has many good tunes to listen to as this film celebrates the life of folk music. The film seems a little odd at times, but that is because it has a strange sense of humor. But as this film likes to point out, the answer is always blowin' in the wind. I rate this movie 8/10.
Sean Lamberger
Christopher Guest and company tackle the super-cheesy folk music scene of the '60s in their own unmistakable way. While its status among Guest's other pictures could be debated, I don't think there's any question it's his most complete effort. Tremendously funny at points, it also tells a straight, coherent story and ties in a stunning successful emotional hook. The laughs aren't quite as loud or as rapid-fire as they were in Spinal Tap; however, the tone also isn't nearly as flippant, which is a major reason why it's able to settle down and deliver something truly sweet at the climax. Of course, the original music is once again outstanding, with lyrics that are more subtly funny and not nearly as brazen, and is spectacularly performed by the cast of ad-lib legends. It's an ensemble piece in every definition of the word, with the mockumentary style of the first sixty minutes providing more than enough background to emotionally invest its audience for the grand finale in Town Hall. Effectively funny and heartwarming in even doses, A Mighty Wind is a great continuation of the troupe's legacy.
zaid-adham
Though I might not understand folk music as much as I do the world of rock or heavy metal as so perfectly committed in mockumentary form in This Is Spinal Tap, Christopher Guest and co have failed to get the same reaction out of me in this film, neither in concept nor in execution. Concept-wise, the film would work but it seems that the story could have benefited from the direction of someone else other than Christopher Guest, who doesn't manage to pull off the mockumentary look (or flow) like Rob Reiner or others before him have done.Over-acting on the part of several players (most prominently Eugene Levy and Fred Willard) really sold this as a terrible mockery of the mockumentary genre. The plot was lost in the attempt to film this as a mockumentary and so the film loses its ability to define itself much like most of the folk singers are incapable of dealing with the loss of their identities in the latter parts of their lives after the folk sensation died down.This one gave too much away, the only way I didn't recognize This Is Spinal Tap as a real documentary in its realism was the appearance of Fran Drescher. Definitely a weak movie, this one.
AD
