FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Director: Christopher Guest (Mighty Wind, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show)
Starring: Catherine O'Hara, Harry Shearer, Parker Posey, a cast of thousands

Guest has made his career in recent years with his series of 'mockumentary' ensemble comedies. Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show and Mighty Wind are three of the most lovely little comedies in recent memory. They're all three smart, and sweet, and touching, and darn funny. Other than a few scattered (albeit quite good) comedic roles in movies like The Princess Bride or This is Spinal Tap, Guest will be remembered for this series of comedies. At least he'll be rembered more for them than for directing Almost Heroes, the Matthew Perry vehicle you didn't see.

I'm sad to report that For Your Consideration is the weakest of the series of mockumentaries. In fact, I don't think I can accurately call it a mockumentary as Guest has done away with the faux documentary style in its entirety for this film. The movie has its moments, but by and large it's a step behind its precedants in almost every area. It's not (quite) as funny. It's not (quite) as clever. It's not (quite) as cute, or well constructed, or endearing. It's just not quite there.

The story follows the cast of a small independent film as an internet rumor links the production with an academy award. The hype swells to a crescendo until Oscar nomination day where ...
where I'm not going to ruin what happens.

Apparently all it takes is a simple spark (like a Hollywood gossip column claiming an actress deserves Oscar consideration) and the Hollywood marketing machine cycles into gear and transforms the movie and those in it. What starts as a (strange) southern family drama, "Home for Purim" (Yes, Purim, the Jewish holiday), is transformed into "Home for Thanksgiving" once the corporate suits sense that the film might actually sell tickets. The actors struggle with near-fame. The agents, and suits, and entertainment magazines (including a quite funny Access Hollywood type TV show) grab hold of the little production and spiral it out of control, and everyone else associated with it.

It's a fine little idea, and the film shares most of the same fine sensibilities as the other Christopher Guest films, but it just doesn't work as well. The film is sweet. The film is at times quite funny. I especially loved Jane Lynch as the co-host of Access Hollywood/Entertainment Tonight type show. Her role was brief, but her costumes and the simple way she stood up were hilarious. I'm not kidding. Her "stance" was really funny. As I said, though, it never really came together as well as the previous films. Mostly to blame, I think, was the script (assuming there was one, as much of the film seemed improvised). The story never really reached a climax. It just continued on for a while, and then stopped.

Standouts: The high point of the film was probably the various actors' hair and clothes. I'm serious. That and Jane Lynch's stance.
Blowouts: The story arc was weak, and it was only occasionally funny.

Grade: B-