Movie Review: A Mighty Wind

Director/actor/writer Christopher Guest lampooned the rock world as part of Spinal Tap and cracked us up more recently by spoofing the world of big dog shows in Best in Show. This time he takes on the folk music era and brings his usual troupe of incredibly talented actors along for this latest effort. Teens should certainly recognize Eugene Levy from American Pie and recently Bringin' Down the House and there are plenty of other familiar faces to hold your interest.

A Mighty Wind 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) who were one hit wonders way back when. The New Main Street Singers, 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), who were once America's folk sweethearts.

Once the groups are gathered, the rivalry and personal problems threaten to cancel the PBS-televised concert.

This movie is hilarious. You don't have to know anything about the folk music era or even who Peter, Paul and Mary or Joan Baez were to enjoy laughing at this film. These actors improv all their lines and each little segment of the film is like the best Saturday Night Live or MAD T.V. sketch you ever saw. And, the cast actually sings and plays live and writes the music. Talk about multi-tasking! There is even a kind of sad little romance in the film as old lovers get back together to re-live a little of their former glory.

All cast members are excellent in their roles and watch for American Pie's hilarious Jennifer Coolidge as a loony PR woman. Christopher Guest was actually in a folk music band in the late 1960's so the music in the film is funny but not all that off the mark as a double for the real thing. It's refreshing to see a funny movie with no fart or gross-out physical comedy jokes...just talented actor/singers making it up wonderfully as they go along.