“A Mighty Wind” (Warner Brothers)
Run don’t walk to the nearest theater playing “A Mighty Wind.” This is the funniest, most enjoyable movie I have seen in some time. It is a “mockumentary” about a group of folksingers from the sixties, reuniting for a concert to honor their deceased manager. The writer, director and stars of this movie are all the same as those who gave us “Best In Show,” another hilarious film.
The groups which are coming back for the gala tribute are “The Folksmen” (Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer and Michael McKean), “The New Main Street Singers” (Jane Lynch, John Michael Higgins, and Parker Posey), and “Mitch and Mickey” (Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara).
Each of these groups is presented in absolutely serious fashion. They sing and talk among themselves with utter sincerity and understated hilarity. Mitch and Mickey are the central focus of the story. They are a folk singing duet who caused hearts to flutter with their romantic entanglements. Now the reunion concert is coming and it is wondered if they might get back together.
In addition to the stars named above, there are also cameos by Bob Balaban, Ed Begley, Jr. and the inimitable Fred Willard. Willard utters one uproarious line after another and makes his brief time on screen a standout.
The actors all wrote their own songs, sang them on screen, and in many cases improvised their dialogue. Whatever they did it works. The secret is in it being presented seriously. That makes all that transpires that much more funny.
The movie is rated PG-13 for some profanity and some sexual innuendoes.
Mark this one down as the biggest new hit of the new year. It should still be remembered when “Top 10 Lists” are made at the end of the year. It is fun and funny and when you have that kind of combo it is time to race to the theater where it is playing.
I scored “A Mighty Wind” a roaring 9 out of 10.
©2003 Jackie K. Cooper
