For Your Consideration

My own worst fears have been confirmed. The Christopher Guest franchise is losing steam. I sensed it after seeing A Mighty Wind. This comedy of farce is wearing thin, and his latest, For Your Consideration, despite its attempt to fit into a more conventional dramatic structure, can't resurrect the magic that was Waiting For Guffman, or even Best In Show.

There's some attempt at Hollywood lampooning, but Guest's tools of farce are weak and unfocused. The film in production is a ridiculous parody of family melodrama that isn't funny, and takes up way too much screen time. (Comic writers, listen to me: Things aren't funny merely because they are Jewish). Only a few of FYC's characters are fleshed out enough to be interesting. This is Guest's classically familiar Underdog story, but instead of putting a fresh twist on the conventions, he seems to have left out some of the meat.

Even Fred Willard is irritating. It's as if this troupe has run out of ideas and fallen back on the basic essentials they can pull off in their sleep. Nobody is bringing anything new to this thing. There were a few moments, obviously, that kept me in the theater. Ricky Gervais is pretty good. John Michael Higgins is a riot. If you do go see this thing, keep your eyes out for Sam, the 2nd 2nd AD. He has one scene, but he's so loveable, and it reminds you of why Guest's movies used to be good.

There's a scene in which some Hollywood astronaut extras, and then a flock of showgirls, pass by in the background and it's the most directorial skill Mr. Guest employs throughout the film.