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Review

Waiting for Guffman: Proving the show must go on, Waiting for Guffman is an often hilarious though modest mockumentary directed and cowritten by Guest, one of the talents behind the granddaddy of the genre, This Is Spinal Tap. Community theatre is the target this time, and for anyone who has ever been associated with their local playhouse, much of this will seem like nirvana. The characterizations and petty politics are on-target, the tacky production values are gloriously captured, and there's enough in-jokes to make any semi-insider feel particularly in the loop. But Guffman is also a bit slow between the laughs. When the comedy works, this sizzles (My Dinner with Andre action figures!); but Guest allows some scenes to drag with no upshot. Nevertheless, the laughs are plentiful and well observed, and to anyone "in the loop," Waiting for Guffman is a cheerful reminder that show business is like no business you know. ***

Best in Show: After skewering local theatre (Waiting for Guffman), director Guest takes on dog shows with this very funny mockumentary. An eccentric group of dog owners come together for the annual Mayflower Dog Show, and Guest nary misses a beat in capturing the absurdity of it all. Sure there are some easy targets (like Posey and Hitchcock's neurotic yuppie couple or McKean and Higgins' queeny lovers fussing over their shih tzu). And like Guffman not every bit works. But this is fun through and through, thanks to a plethora of laughs and wonderful characterizations. And besides, how can you resist a film that includes a doggie calendar re-enacting such favorites as Gone with the Wind, Casablanca and "McMillan and Wife"? ***½

A Mighty Wind: This rowdy ensemble of performers, back again for a third outing with mockumentary master Guest, could make a staged reading of a phone book hilarious. Thankfully, Guest's material is more lively. This time, he sets his eye on the folk music world and sets as the central event a large reunion concert that some of the nation's best known folk singers from an earlier era have agreed to perform. The results are a combination of guffaw-worthy and tender moments as we meet each of the groups. Guest does plenty of skewering of folk music and the era, yet he also seems to have a respect for the style, with lots of the music (actually performed by the actors) having a genuine feel to it. Comic highlights include Posey as a sprightly member of a folk ensemble and Guest, McKean and Shearer as a unique jokey folk trio named The Folksmen. A toe-tappin', side-splittin' good time. ***½