Outstanding review Frank...and Peg's post following is an excellent piece as well. Both lead me to say something that I think Guest is absolutely sure of.

I don't think he believes he's making films for the masses nor does he think he's in the art film business with a tiny market either. I think he views his audience as he probably see himself. People of above average intelligence who appreciate subtle humor as muc as a belly laugh. He knows it's necessary to have some knowledge of the subject being lampooned, but at the same time knows that only a limited knowledge is required. He walks a fine line in the subject matter knowing that while many may recognize something for what it is, others see it only as he presents it nd are still capable of getting the joke. Hence the non-use of folks like Doc Watson.

It isn't needed to be a serious rocker to grin, chuckle, squirm, and laugh at Spinal Tap. Community theatre isn't a prerequisite for "Guffman." Many of my friends wished he's done deeper stuff with Best In Show yet to do more would have required an audience knowledge much higher than he wanted to rely on. I think he relies on the intelligence of the audience to take in the jokes and the only slighly overdrawn characters. Those characters are often people we KNOW to some degree or another and the improv/build your own character style and dialogue is what makes the stuff so damn funny! Someone mentioned Fred Willard's "usual schtick"......Although I agree it's a well used persona of his, it fit well into the bozo he played in Guffman and it was perfect for taking the piss out of Joe Garagiola in Best In Show. Many were familiar with Joe G's narrations of the Westminster Kennel Club show and Fred really did one helluva' job!

I figure this will hit the HBO/Showtime circuit within a few months as did BIS.

Spaw