Waiting for Guffman (1997)

91% of critics liked it
(54 reviews)
89% of users liked it
(40,211 ratings)

The city of Blaine, Missouri is celebrating its sesquicentennial, and what better reason could there be to put on a show? Corky St. Claire (Christopher Guest), current leader of Blaine's community theater group and creator of a stage musical version of Backdraft that led to the unfortunate… More The city of Blaine, Missouri is celebrating its sesquicentennial, and what better reason could there be to put on a show? Corky St. Claire (Christopher Guest), current leader of Blaine's community theater group and creator of a stage musical version of Backdraft that led to the unfortunate destruction of the theater, has been commissioned to put together a musical about the city's noble history, "Red, White and Blaine," which stars a variety of the town's theatrical talent. Corky's cast includes Ron and Sheila Albertson (Fred Willard and Catherine O'Hara), a pair of married travel agents that Corky calls "the Lunts of Blaine;" Allan Pearl (Eugene Levy), a dentist who insists that he wasn't the class clown in high school but did sit next to him; Libby Mae Brown (Parker Posey), a sweet young thing who lives for her job at the Dairy Queen; and Clifford Wooley (Lewis Arquette), an "Old Blainian" who makes gun racks from deer hooves. Somehow, Corky has persuaded a major theatrical producer in New York to send a representative to look at the show -- is it possible that "Red, White and Blaine" could be headed to Broadway? Christopher Guest directed and co-wrote this very funny mock-documentary, in addition to playing the flamboyant Corky; Guests's partners from This Is Spinal Tap, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, helped write the memorable songs for "Red, White and Blaine." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Christopher Guest
Written By: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 21, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Aug 21, 2001
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This 1997 comedy may be amusing if you feel a pressing need to feel superior to somebody, but the aim is too broad and scattershot to add up to much beyond an acknowledgment of small-town desperation.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
A madcap gem.
Daniel M. Kimmel, Variety
Where This Is Spinal Tap took rock music and the media as its focus - fat, juicy targets just asking to be lampooned - Guest's target here is small-town provincials.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A very funny, very unusual ensemble comedy that falls somewhere between slapdash and brilliant, an improvised comedy with more hits than misses.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Priceless.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
A sly and gleeful comedy showcase that pokes clever fun at the American musical, amateur theatricals and anything else that's not nailed down.
Ellen Dendy, Common Sense Media
Fab small-town spoof; subtle humor may bore kids.
Neil Jeffries, Empire Magazine
The songs (co-written by Guest and Tapster Harry Shearer) are suitably ridiculous and the deadpan gags come thick, fast and too numerous to mention, all delivered with knuckle-gnawing subtlety by the C-list cast with A-list style.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Frequently funny -- sometimes very funny indeed.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Raucous, outrageously funny, and filled with many zany scenes.
Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
One of the funniest movies ever made, 'Waiting for Guffman' spoofs everything from documentaries and talent shows to local politics and alien abductions.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Trabalhando em um subgênero que praticamente ajudou a crier (o do pseudocumentário), Guest cria mais um filme que diverte por compreender tão bem seu tema e seus personagens.
Emanuel Levy, Screendaily
A sly, gleeful and subtle comedy that pokes fun at American musicals, amateur theatricals, and the culture of celebrity-the universal wish to be famous--set in the small, provincial town of Blaine about to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
, Time Out
The comedy has the slow burn of a richly nuanced and non-judgmental character study.
Ron Wells, Film Threat
It's Corky's movie.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Guest's satire of small-town America and amateur actors has a sly edge, it's not mean, and Guest never strips his characters of their dignity.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jonathan H

I just don't see it. Waiting for Guffman is considered by many to be the greatest mockumentary of all time, but I'll take a number of films (including Guest's own Spinal Tap) over this one any day. The characters, while charming, are largely disposable, and for me, it… More
I just don't see it. Waiting for Guffman is considered by many to be the greatest mockumentary of all time, but I'll take a number of films (including Guest's own Spinal Tap) over this one any day. The characters, while charming, are largely disposable, and for me, it felt like the same joke templates were used over and over again -- although the Remains of the Day lunchbox in Corky St. Clair's memorabilia store was a pretty good gag.
Reid V

For my money, the king of all mockumentaries. Guest is not only pitch perfect as the lovably daft Corky St. Claire, but as director he marvelously builds the mythology of Blaine, Missouri without being too over-the-top. And with a little help from his stable of choice actors, he… More
For my money, the king of all mockumentaries. Guest is not only pitch perfect as the lovably daft Corky St. Claire, but as director he marvelously builds the mythology of Blaine, Missouri without being too over-the-top. And with a little help from his stable of choice actors, he creates one incredibly funny film. Their skit at this year's oscars made me miss this gang and it is always great to revisit them here in top form.
moon r

Christopher Guest's mockumentary about the putting on of a play in a small town doubles as a questioning of all those small town dreams of Hollywood. Entertaining.
Spencer S

Another great Christopher Guest film. It was short and sweet, getting to the comically rich center point in the nick of time.
Tony G

" He's teaching me to change my instincts... or at least ignore them. " "Guffman" is a comedic gem.
Lenny M

A classic movie/mockumentary that is fun to watch.
Drew S

This is the funniest shit I have seen in a long, long time. Christoper Guest is a genius. Viva la mockumentary!
Daniel P

A stock Christopher Guest mockumentary that features great performances by Parker Posey, Eugene Levy and Guest himself as director Corky St. Clair, it's probably second to This Is Spinal Tap for the best of Guest.
Tim S

A very funny mockumentary that's delightful and witty.
Curtis L

okay
Keysha H

I absolutely love this film. Every scene is hilarious! Christopher Guest does a brilliant job bringing this troupe to screen!
Gordon A

Pitch perfect send up of small town life and theatre. The sheer enthusiasm for the play exerted by the cast carries you along and you almost forget the banality.......almost
Lafe F

A superbly funny comedy about a big Broadway director named Corky (Christopher Guest) returning to his home town of Blaine to organize a stage extravaganza to celebrate the town's 150th Anniversary. Very funny. Corky is fun and fancy. A lot of the townspeople actually think they… More
A superbly funny comedy about a big Broadway director named Corky (Christopher Guest) returning to his home town of Blaine to organize a stage extravaganza to celebrate the town's 150th Anniversary. Very funny. Corky is fun and fancy. A lot of the townspeople actually think they are talented, so it's a treat to see them performing so badly. As good as "A Mighty Wind" for it's quirky and detailed characters. I like the Guffman appearance at the end of the movie. This movie is a classic in the pseudo-documentary comedy category. Corky is what makes it so good; his gay pose on the cover perfectly illustrates what he is about.
Tim B

The same touching, understated humour as Spinal Tap. It may have a few less quotables, but is a laugh riot, none the less.
Mike N

My bi-annual participation in this thing has again resurfaced. Battle of the Posters... time to vote, people. Apparently my round is already almost over and I barely even caught it (still in China - returning tomorrow - if I win, I post Tibet pics. If I lose... well, I'd better… More
My bi-annual participation in this thing has again resurfaced. Battle of the Posters... time to vote, people. Apparently my round is already almost over and I barely even caught it (still in China - returning tomorrow - if I win, I post Tibet pics. If I lose... well, I'd better not lose. Facing a fellow RT veteran in [b]TaxiDriver[/b], but my tremendous coolness should prevail, though it be underspoken. Come, vote, be happy.): http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/showthread.php?t=546568
Byron B

Another humorous look at putting together a play. My favorite Christopher Guest mockumentary. It always surprises me after seeing how badly the rehearsals go, to see how well the final performance comes together. Not a good performance, but surprisingly well put together. Then… More
Another humorous look at putting together a play. My favorite Christopher Guest mockumentary. It always surprises me after seeing how badly the rehearsals go, to see how well the final performance comes together. Not a good performance, but surprisingly well put together. Then again, that is the point.
Christopher O

As a actor and director for many years in community theatre, this film struck a real comedic chord for me. The brillant mind of Christopher Guest does a mockumentary based on a small town trying to put on a Anniversary celebration by bringing back their one famous resident Corky St.… More
As a actor and director for many years in community theatre, this film struck a real comedic chord for me. The brillant mind of Christopher Guest does a mockumentary based on a small town trying to put on a Anniversary celebration by bringing back their one famous resident Corky St. Clair to direct the show. We get to meet some of the town's residents whose only dream is to be onstage. Full of wonderful comic and touching performances by Guest, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, and Eugene Levy.This film is a classic and Guest's best film of this genere. A comic gem.
Joey N

I don't know how to rate Christopher Guest films. Parts of it are funny, most of it faintly amusing, some of it annoying.
Doctor S

The most ridiculous 'R' rating ever assigned.
Marcus W

Ignore the poster, it makes the film look like some crappy indie nonsense. There are plenty of smile-worthy jokes in this but it has a bigger heart than most of Guest's work. By the time the show comes along you're totally enamoured with the characters and willing the show… More
Ignore the poster, it makes the film look like some crappy indie nonsense. There are plenty of smile-worthy jokes in this but it has a bigger heart than most of Guest's work. By the time the show comes along you're totally enamoured with the characters and willing the show to be a success. And anybody who can think up "Remains of the Day lunchboxes" is a comedic genius.