MPAA Rating: PG-13
Original Review Date: October 3, 2003
Reviewed by: Erin, Movie Muse
In a Nutshell: Great music! Okay movie. The concert saved it for me.
Quick Plot: Another "mockumentary" from Christopher Guest, this time targeting the folk music scene. Fictional folk music icon Irving Steinbloom has passed away. His children organize a memorial concert starring all of the acts he represented over the years. Comprised of "interviews" with the groups as well as concert footage (both during and behind the scenes).
In Detail: Interesting. This was my first Christopher Guest
film, and it was certainly interesting. I certainly didn't love
it, but I think I liked it. LOL Okay, so not the most glowing
review. Let's see if I can be a little more specific. It was
pretty much what I expected, so I guess that was good. But I
expected most of the humor to NOT be the kind I liked, and I was
right. It wasn't the gross-out humor that I hate, but most of
it was "I don't really see why all these people are laughing
about that." It's not that I didn't get the jokes, I just
didn't think they were funny.
Don't get me wrong, it had its laugh out loud moments! And we
certainly enjoyed ourselves. We were obviously engaged in the
story to a certain extend, because we cared whether or not a
certain event took place during the concert (nope, sorry, I
ain't tellin'!). The concert at the end saved it for me. If it
has been mostly like the "documentary parts" at the beginning, I
would have been disappointed. I'm glad I saw it, the music was
*wonderful*, and I don't care to see it again. Nor will I
probably see any further Christopher Guest films (unless he is
spoofing something close to my heart, like Star Trek or
something). I also think Eugene Levy should quit acting and
sing for a living. WOW!
Will I Buy It? Probably not, but I might pick up the soundtrack.
