A Mighty Wind 2003

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: Guest and his troupe have made a perfectly enjoyable movie, but held to the high comedic standards of their previous two mockumentary adventures ... not to mention This Is Spinal Tap ... A Mighty Wind is a bummer. Read more

Scott Von Doviak, Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com: Guest is sometimes guilty of leaning too hard on the 'mock' in mockumentary, but that impulse is tempered by some genuine sweetness. Read more

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: A hoot. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: More of a warm breeze than a great gust, but its simple, smart pleasures carry the force of a hurricane. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: [T]he most heartwarming spoof ever made. Read more

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune: The laughs come early and often, then dry up like the characters' post-'60s careers. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Almost makes you believe that Mitch and Mickey were real, which is an impressive stunt. More than that, it makes you almost wish that they were, which is something of a miracle. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: You don't have to be an aging baby-boomer folkie-manque to laugh yourself silly. Read more

Manohla Dargis, Los Angeles Times: The jokes would be funny even if they weren't perfectly timed, but what makes them come across as so poignant is the seriousness with which the director and his co-conspirators deliver their jabs and japes. Read more

Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle: You don't leave A Mighty Wind laughing so much as humming. Its dialogue may be improvised, but its music is well rehearsed. Read more

Paul Clinton (CNN.com), CNN.com: Bright, breezy and whimsical, A Mighty Wind will please Guest's fans. Read more

Vic Vogler, Denver Post: Guest's previous films offer essential windows into the absurd and the lovable and, in its own way, so does his latest. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: A movie that re-creates its object of satire with such pitch-perfect flair that it all but erases the line between derision and love. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: The character actors are all superb, deftly weaving back and forth over the line between sympathetic human characters and eccentric caricatures, so laughter and sympathy are indistinguishable. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: The chemistry among the players, developed over multiple films, is sharper than ever. Read more

Hazel-Dawn Dumpert, L.A. Weekly: Freshened immensely by pitch-perfect song parodies, a batch of hilarious faux album covers, nimble improv from the ever-marvelous cast, and a palpable love for the subject matter. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: The sentimentality effectively undercuts the urban condescension that invariably seeps into Guest's spins on middle-American provincialism. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: It's just about as terrific as Guest's previous two wingdings, Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: Perhaps, after Best of Show and the terrific Waiting for Guffman this is a bit of a letdown. But it's still nice to leave a theater with a smile these days -- even though it would be even nicer to leave it laughing. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: There is no shortage of performers with comic skills in A Mighty Wind. What's lacking instead is a visible premise for the satire and ridicule. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Despite not being a laugh-a-minute riot, it's nevertheless one of the most consistent comedies to reach theaters thus far this year. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The edge is missing from Guest's usual style. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Arrives as a breath of fresh air, for its smart ensemble, subtle wit and careful observation of humanity. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: Read more

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune: With Guest again demonstrating affection for the subjects he teases -- the humor is never mean-spirited, and some of the music is kind of fun -- his fans are likely to be toe-tappingly pleased. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: Genuine appreciation of the movie comes in recognizing the careful evocation of the sights, sounds and emotions of the early '60s -- sans the politics, which are curiously MIA -- and not from hooting at the hicks. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: The sweetest and funniest of Guest's true-life fake-umentaries. Read more

Derek Adams, Time Out: Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: Though it's softer than its predecessors, this reunion pic lingers in the mind almost as much. Read more

David Rooney, Variety: While the mockumentary formula is showing signs of strain, the gifted repertory company again creates an amusing gallery of incisively observed characters, riffing off each other with enjoyment levels that frequently prove contagious. Read more

Michael Atkinson, Village Voice: The relative surplus of affectionate respect allows for a sly deepening of character all around, and an unexpected upkick from satire to poignance. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Not only is the material amusing, it's charmingly engaging. Read more