Waiting for Guffman
★★★★
I didn’t discover the wonderfully weird world of Christopher Guest until college—and Waiting for Guffman was my gateway drug. My roommate and I quoted this movie constantly. It’s short, breezy (under 90 minutes), and packed with eccentric small-town characters that only Guest and his legendary troupe could dream up.
Set in Blaine, Missouri, this mockumentary is equal parts heartfelt and absurd, with iconic one-liners I still throw at my oldest daughter during her many, many theater rehearsals. (She might not get all of it yet—but she did appreciate “Penny for your thoughts.”)
Watching it again with her, I realized how patient the comedy is. The scrappy, low-budget feel only adds to its charm. You can tell it was made with love and an insane amount of talent.
If you love comedies, if you love theater kids or if you just love watching a cast of seasoned improv pros absolutely cook—Waiting for Guffman belongs at the top of your must-watch list.
