To See Or Not To See: Mock-umentaries

by Jan Stetter
QCFMag.com

Dare it be assumed everyone knows the meaning of mockumentary? It actually is what it implies. A mockumentary is a film genre of parody or satire loosely resembling a documentary. Often the dialogue is unscripted and improvised by the actors.

Documentaries may fascinate, to others they may bore. Perhaps mockumentaries differ in that they are usually filmed with the goal of being an art form. Rarely are the plots a call for social justice or stories of corporate whistle blowers. They have the format of a documentary where snippets of the story are shown as interviews or as live action windows to the characters’ lives.

You may remember the movie, The Blair Witch Project. This was an example of a mockumentary that told a haunting ghost story. Many mockumentaries are comedies. Any of the mockumentaries directed, written or involving Christopher Guest are a sure win.

Christopher Guest is an actor, director, composer and musician. He was one of the writers as well as actors in his first mockumentary, 1986’s This is Spinal Tap. Throughout his career in making mockumentaries he has aligned himself with talented actors who revel in the opportunity to create and improvise a story into the life of the characters. Except for This is Spinal Tap, all other Guest mockumentaries were co-written with Eugene Levy.

For your viewing pleasure, may I suggest:

This is Spinal Tap 1986

A film that follows a fictitious rock band “Spinal Tap” touring America in the mid-eighties in hopes that the tour may jumpstart their waning popularity and careers. The pretentious smugness and self adulation of the band members makes for a mock glimpse of what touring with bands similar to Queen, Black Sabbath or Aerosmith may have been like. The mock footage of their concerts is comedy at its best.

Starring Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Rob Reiner, Fran Drescher

Waiting For Guffman 1996

This film parodies small town community theatre and what happens when a few of the locals hang their star on the possibility of being discovered by a famous New York critic. Guest and Levy write for characters who believe their talent as thespians far surpasses any Hollywood success or classically trained actor. Don’t miss their musical rendition of the movie Backdraft.
Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hare, Parker Posey, Larry Miller, Fred Willard

Best In Show 2000

The title refers to the name of an award given at an elite dog competition. The movie follows five dog owners and the lengths they will go for their dog’s chance to be voted “Best In Show”. Watch this mockumentary to meet a hilarious cast of characters with names like: Harlan Peeper, Meg and Hamilton Swan, Cookie Guglemen Fleck, her husband Gerry and Stefan Vanderhoof and his significant other Scott Donlan.

Starring Christopher Guest, Parker Posey, Michael Hitchcock, Catherine O’Hare, Eugene Levy, Michael McKean and John Michael Higgins.

A Mighty Wind 2003

A Mighty Wind is a mockumentary that tells the story of a reunion of three of the biggest groups of sixties folk stars who all were discovered or managed by the recently deceased, Irving Steinbloom. His children decide to pay tribute to their father by having a national televised performance at Radio City in New York. Although Radio City could not accommodate this wealth of talent, see what these musicians do to honor the long respected art of folk singing in New York City’s Town Hall.

Starring Christopher Guest, Bob Balaban, Catherine O’Hare, Harry Shearer, Michael McKeon, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy, Parker Posey and Fred Willard

Having trouble making decisions about whether a movie is worth it? "To See or Not To See" reviews movies each week on Monday. Contact:

jans@queencityforum.com