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Waiting for Guffman (1996)

 -  Comedy  -  31 January 1997 (USA)
7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 18,408 users   Metascore: 71/100
Reviews: 198 user | 48 critic | 19 from Metacritic.com

An aspiring director and the marginally-talented amateur cast of a hokey small-town Missouri musical production go overboard when they learn that someone from Broadway will be in attendance.

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Title: Waiting for Guffman (1996)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Gwen Fabin-Blunt - Councilwoman
...
Steve Stark - Councilman
Scott Williamson ...
Tucker Livingston - Councilman
...
Glenn Welsch - Mayor
...
Phil Burgess - Blaine Historian
...
...
...
...
...
UFO Expert
...
James McQueen ...
Singing Auditioner (as Jim McQueen)
Turk Pipkin ...
Ping Pong Ball Juggler
Jerry Turman ...
Raging Bull Auditioner
...
Lloyd Miller
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Storyline

A town of Blaine, Missouri is preparing for celebrations of its 150th anniversary. Corky St.Clair, an off-off-off-off-off-Broadway director is putting together an amateur theater show about the town's history, starring a local dentist, a couple of travel agents, a Dairy Queen waitress, and a car repairman. He invites a Broadway theater critic Mr. Guffman to see the opening night of the show. Written by Piotr Zembrowski <zembrows@astro.utoronto.ca>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

A New Comedy from the lead guitarist of 'Spinal Tap' See more »

Genres:

Comedy

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief strong language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

31 January 1997 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

The Christopher Guest Project  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$37,990 (USA) (31 January 1997)

Gross:

$2,892,582 (USA) (18 July 1997)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| | (uncredited)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the collectible figures in Corky's shop at the end of the movie is Cliff Arquette in his Charley Weaver outfit. Cliff's son, Lewis Arquette, played Clifford Wooley, the narrator. See more »

Goofs

The clock on the VCR in the trailer flashes (the time isn't set) in long shots, but is correctly set in close-up. See more »

Quotes

Corky St. Clair: Everybody dance!
See more »

Crazy Credits

During the end credits Christopher Guest's character shows us some of the fun memorabilia that he sells in his store. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Dog Eat Dog (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

"Stool Boom"
Written by Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest
Courtesy of Dog on the Beach Music / Coney Island Whitefish Music / Hazen Music (ASCAP)
Sung by the cast in the show
See more »

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User Reviews

Genius
14 September 2000 | by (la) – See all my reviews

It's amazing that Christopher Guest (and the great Eugene Levy) aren't more known. If I had my way, they'd be household names. With so many less talented actors making more money and films than these guys, it's proves it's an unfair world and an unfair biz.

Waiting for Guffman is a hilarious film. A great cast and a funny concept make this a classic. These are really talented people in this film, especially when you realize a lot of it was adlibbed.

"Only two people can do it all: Barbara Striesand and Corky..."

"I hate you and I hate your ass face."

I still laugh every time I see it. Eugene Levy (my favorite SCTV cast member) is so funny in this movie, I really wish he did more stuff. The man's a genius.

When you see these all time great comedy lists, ignore them. They were picked by 80 year old men who still think Buster Keaton is the funniest human to ever live. You'll never find movies like this on those lists. But this movie deserves to be. It's up there with "The Odd Couple" and "Airplane." Definitely check it out.


16 of 26 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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